Manchester City missed the chance to reclaim top spot in the WSL with a 1-1 draw against Manchester United in a fiercely contested Manchester derby.

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw looked to have scored the winner on her 100th appearance for Manchester City, only for Elisabeth Terland to force home an equaliser right at the death. The result means that Manchester United remain unbeaten since the second game of the league season with City still unbeaten but no longer holding a perfect record.

Both sides came into this derby in matching form, with three wins out of their last three WSL fixtures. Having suffered such a turbulent start to her Manchester United managerial career, Eva Olid has managed to find a level of stability in results, helped by a consistent team selection. Here, she went for the same lineup, whilst Andrée Jeglertz opted to shuffle his full backs after the 3-2 win against Brighton & Hove Albion. In came Iman Beney and Carlotta Wamser for Kerstin Casparij and Niamh Charles, whilst in attack, Mary Fowler was chosen ahead of Grace Clinton.

The Lineups

MUN: Tullis-Joyce; Lundkvist, Le Tissier, Janssen, Sandberg; Zigiotti Olme, Miyazawa, Park; Toone, Medina, Terland

MCI: Yamashita; Beney, Rose, Greenwood, Wamser; Blindkilde Brown, Hasegawa, Fowler; Fujino, Hemp, Shaw

The Action

With Chelsea winning 3-1 at Crystal Palace in the midday kick-off, Manchester City knew only a win at United would do if they wanted to maintain their early lead in the title race. However, it was Manchester United who started the brighter, with Elisabeth Terland looking to sit on the shoulder of the last defender, whilst Ella Toone directed their attacks. A spin and a dart forward saw her break free of Alex Greenwood, but her low drive was easily claimed by Ayaka Yamashita. A volleyed pass from Toone nearly found Terland again, but Jade Rose was alert to the danger and snuffed out the move.

It was Rose who was winning the early duel between she and Terland, whilst at the other end of the pitch, Manchester City were starting to bare their teeth. Aoba Fujino fired the first shot across the bows for the visitors with a long-range effort that just missed the near post. Manchester City’s attacks were primarily coming through Lauren Hemp, the switches in play consistently getting her in Man United’s left pocket and allowing her to bombard the United penalty with crosses.

As the half progressed, it was Man City who started to dominate the play and the territory, with United looking to defend deeper and break on transitions. One such moment saw Andrea Medina picked out with a sweeping pass. She fed Toone, whose whipped low cross just evaded the sliding Terland. Shortly after, Fowler hit the United woodwork with a dipping effort from range, although the referee had long blown the whistle for a foul.

Miniature battles were breaking out all over the pitch. Dominique Janssen was equal to everything Hemp and Fujino could launch into the penalty area. Rose was marshalling Terland well. Yet the fiercest content was between Maya Le Tissier and Shaw. A scuffle on the edge of the box and later on the halfway line went unpunished by referee Kirsty Dowle, much to the frustration of the crowd. The half-time whistle provided a much-needed respite for both sides as the derby threatened to boil over.

The second half saw Man United start the brighter, with Terland having further joy against Alex Greenwood, but persisted with her wastefulness. One opening saw her attempt a back heel to Toone rather than take the strike on herself. Minutes later, she brushed past Greenwood to get herself 1v1 with Yamashita, but could only shoot tamely at the Japanese keeper.

It was a former Manchester City alumni who then went closest for United. A short corner found Jess Park on the edge of the box. Her first effort was blocked, but the second beat Yamashita but not the crossbar. Yet just as in the first half, it was pressure Man United could not sustain. The pendulum swung away from them, and when it was Man City’s turn to dictate, they capitalised. Fowler picked out Shaw inside the box, and the Jamaican forward showed great strength to pin Janssen, spin, and reverse the shot through the Dutch defender’s legs and beyond the reach of Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

It was a goal that moved Man City back to the top of the table, and the perfect way for Shaw to celebrate her 100th game for the club. Man United’s response was immediate, a Toone back-heel to Medina unlocked the Man City defence, but in the pinball scramble that followed, Zigiotti Olme could only blaze over from close range. Meanwhile, Shaw looked to extend her tally for the night, meeting two corners but unable to steer her efforts on target. Substitute Clinton then went closer still, her flick on the halfway line setting Hemp free at the defence. Hemp returned the favour to send Clinton clear, and whilst her effort beat Tullis-Joyce, Le Tissier was able to race back in time to clear off her goal line.

It was a clearance that would prove crucial. As the clock struck 90 minutes, Manchester United were awarded a free kick on the halfway line. Le Tissier launched a hail-mary ball into the Man City box, and when Shaw failed to head the ball clear, Terland was alert to volley the ball past Yamashita and level the match.

Man United up for the fight under new management

Having suffered home and away defeats in the derby to City last season, Manchester United put up a much improved showing here today. There was a boldness to their play, with Medina and Park providing plenty of energy in attack, and Terland a constant menace. In the past, the priority in the bigger games would be to avoid losing them, leading to a deep block designed to frustrate the opposition. Olid has been open since her arrival about her desire for her side to play a more attacking brand of football, an aim that saw plenty of ridicule after back to back opening defeats, including a 6-0 hammering at home to Chelsea.

The balance between defence and attack was better expressed here, with Janssen and Le Tissier limiting Shaw’s influence and dominating the aerial battles. It wasn’t flawless, with good chances in attack wasted, whilst Shaw inevitably found her goal. However, this was a gutsy display from a Manchester United, who were far from outmatched in this battle against the WSL champions, and were well worth their equaliser by the end.

Man City fumble lead in the title race

With just seconds remaining, Jeglertz found himself on the brink of history, potentially becoming the first manager to win three consecutive WSL Manchester derbies. Instead, he must contend with the frustration of dropped points and falling behind Chelsea in the title race on goal difference. For all the attacking talent and energy his side played with, they simply did not challenge Tullis-Joyce enough, with most of their efforts coming from outside the penalty area. Instead, they were forced to rely on the individual brilliance of Shaw to dig them out of a hole, which until the 90th minute, appeared to have worked.

It was therefore the cruellest of ironies that it was Shaw’s error that opened the door for Manchester United to equalise, her weak defensive error pounced upon by her opposite number to snatch two points away. Success and failure for Man City has long been determined by the fitness of Shaw, but she cannot be expected to carry the burden on her own. Vivianne Miedema’s latest injury setback means others must step up to support Shaw, or risk further points dropped like they were here today.

The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Maya Le Tissier

Shaw and Terland may have got the goals, but the steel in defence shown by Maya Le Tissier stood out greatest of all. A real captain’s performance at the back, she marshalled Shaw well, closed down and blocked every shot Man City attempted, and it was her late set piece that allowed United to score the late equaliser.