Manchester United fought back from two goals down and Melvine Malard scored the crucial equaliser in a draw with Manchester City that confirmed their place in Europe next season at the expense of their local rivals.
In front of more than 38,000 fans at Old Trafford, Marc Skinner’s side were made to work hard for their place in next year’s Champions League, with goals from Laia Aleixandri and Rebecca Knaak having given City a two-goal lead. United could feel aggrieved though, having had a goal from Elisabeth Terland ruled out prior to City’s double, with the decision, the forward adjudged to have pushed Aleixandri, looking extremely harsh.
This was unfamiliar territory for United, the home team had only conceded three goals in their 10 home games prior to the visit of Nick Cushing’s side – who welcomed back England duo Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood to the starting XI for the first time since their respective knee injuries.
The response was instant, United defender Aoife Mannion’s ball towards the back post turned in by the head of Grace Clinton to reduce the deficit before the end of the half.
The much-needed equaliser, to prevent the final European berth being decided on the final day of the season, when Arsenal host United and City play relegated Crystal Palace, arrived in the 68th minute – Terland nodded the ball down to Malard and the French forward raced clear and slotted coolly past the onrushing Khiara Keating.
Skinner’s side were dealt a blow soon after, when Mannion exited the pitch after receiving a second yellow for a foul on Brazilian forward Kerolin. A furious Ella Toone was withdrawn in place of Dominique Janssen as United looked to hold on to the point they needed to confirm a top-three finish.
City pushed for a winner as they attempted to salvage the last remaining “prize” from their hugely disappointing season but United clung on to give themselves a boost before they meet Arsenal in their final WSL game and face Chelsea in a third successive FA Cup final appearance.
Newly-crowned champions Chelsea earned a 1-0 win over Tottenham in north London to maintain their unbeaten league season with one game remaining. Catarina Macario’s first-half penalty was the difference between the London teams and helped Chelsea extend their lead over Arsenal to 12 points, with the Gunners playing Brighton tomorrow night.
Elsewhere, Abbie Larkin’s late goal for Crystal Palace cancelled out what had looked to be a stoppage-time winner for Leicester City from Shannon O’Brien. The dramatic end came after Hannah Cain’s opener had given Leicester the lead at the end of the first half, before Annabel Blanchard’s penalty put the score at 1-1 going into added time.
West Ham and Aston Villa traded blows before Chasity Grant’s effort secured a 3-2 win for the Villans. Shekiera Martinez’s ninth goal in 10 games cancelled out Ebony Salmon’s goal for Villa before Riko Ueki put the Hammers ahead and Rachel Daly levelled. However, Grant swung the game in favour of the resurgent Villa, who now have six wins, with four of those coming in their last four games.
