Manchester United continue to eye up Champions League qualification after a strong victory over a toothless Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League (WSL).
Aston Villa returned home to Villa Park with a point to prove after a 3-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Crystal Palace last weekend in south London. Despite the looming threat of the drop, Natalia Arroyo’s side failed to raise to the challenge as Manchester United got the job done in the Midlands.
The Villans looked appeared misguided and confused as Elisabeth Terland’s brace put the Red Devils ahead early, before a booming strike from Grace Clinton twisted the knife just moments before the half time interval.
Leah Galton finished the job in the second half, sending United seven points clear of their Manchester rivals in fourth place.
The Lineups
AVL: D’Angelo; Grant, Parker, Patten, Turner, Tomas; Kearns, Nobbs, Baijings; Daly, Nunes
MUN: Tullis-Joyce; George, Turner, Le Tissier, Riviere; Miyazawa, Clinton, Toone; Galton, Terland, Bizet
The Action
Clinton came just inches away from opening the scoring after finding herself in front of goal, but her strike was pulled just wide of the intended target.
The Red Devils reaped the rewards for their efforts in the 22nd minute as Celin Bizet placed a visionary ball toward the back post. An intelligent run from Elisabeth Terland allowed her to sink her strike into the back of the net.
Aston Villa’s woes worsened less than ten minutes later, as Jayde Riviere eyed up Terland once more. A curling cross into the area was met by Terland, who headed home United’s second of the evening.
A moment of class from Grace Clinton was enough to add a third, as she teed herself up from 40 yards out to chip Sabrina D’Angelo and ripple the back of the net. Clinton was lucky to be let off for a foul on Jill Baijings in the build up, but undisciplined defending from Jordan Nobbs allowed the English starlet to waltz through the midfield before sending her strike into the back of the net.
The Villans were left with lots to answer for at the half time break, as two defensive lapses saw them chasing an early deficit in Birmingham.
A harsh challenge from Danielle Turner saw Bizet down in some pain before being substituted out of the game. The Villa defender was lucky to escape the challenge with just a yellow card as the Norwegian limped down the tunnel.
Manchester United put the game to bed in the 64th minute as Terland turned and located Melvine Malard in the channel. The French forward placed a strong ball toward the front post to be met by Leah Galton, whose strike took a helpful deflection from Lucy Parker to sail into the back of the net.
The victory in the Midlands now sends United seven points clear of City in fourth, putting themselves in a prime position to secure Champions League football next season. After an early drop out to Paris-Saint Germain in the 2023/24 European campaign, Marc Skinner’s side will be hungry for more as they now enter the back-end of the season.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match – Jayde Riviere
Whilst it is always easy to crown the double goalscorer as the standout performer, there is no looking past Jayde Riviere tonight. The Canadian defender was superb, dictating the right side with composure and authority. Her visionary delivery allowed United to grab a 2-0 lead in what was a near-perfect showing.
