Manchester United staged a late comeback at Leigh Sports Village to draw 3-3 in an end-to-end encounter in the Barclays Women's Super League on Sunday afternoon.
Having withstood pressure from United in the opening 45 minutes, the home side striking the woodwork three times in that spell, we found ourselves two goals to the good at the break after some fine headers from our captain Bethany England – her second in as many games – and Eveliina Summanen on the stroke of half-time.
Then, on the hour mark, we furthered extended our advantage as Martha Thomas netted against her former side – and her second in three games in all competitions – on her first start in the WSL this term but United were certainly not out of the equation despite the scoreline as two goals in an eight-minute spell brought them right back into the game in the closing stages.
And as they threw everything at us, they grabbed an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time as substitute Fridolina Rolfo grabbed her second of the game and sent their fans into jubilation, while we were left with a sense of frustration and disappointment after squandering a healthy lead. The point does see us match last season's total of 20 in 11 less games as we sit fifth in the table at the midway point of the campaign.
With United looking to make it back-to-back WSL wins at home for the first time this season, the hosts were on the front foot in the opening stages, Lize Kop denying Melvine Malard from point-blank range before Dominique Janssen curling her free-kick wide of the post – all inside the opening 10 minutes of the contest. However, we arguably carved out the best chance of the game on 17 minutes when Amanda Nilden’s cross found Thomas free at the back post, but all she could do was send her header into the hands of Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
United continued to push for the opener and we were indebted to Toko Koga on her return to the starting side as she headed the ball off the line from Jess Park's curling effort before Hinata Miyazawa struck the woodwork with a shot from the edge of the box but, on 37 minutes, we broke the deadlock with just our second attempt on target. After patient build-up play down the right by Koga and Holdt, the latter delivered a lovely cross with her left foot to find our captain and she rose the highest to power her header off the underside of the crossbar and over the line. The home side looked for an instant response and came inches away from an equaliser, this time Malard striking the crossbar from distance before, once again, Koga was there to deny Elisabeth Terland’s rebound off the line.
Then, from the resulting corner, Maya Le Tissier’s header from point-blank range smashed against the crossbar, and we capitalised on those missed opportunities for United as, in the second minute of injury time of the first period, Ashleigh Neville’s floated ball to the back post found Summanen and she beautifully guided her header home at the far post. As expected, United were quick out of the blocks after the restart to search for a way back into the game, Toone poking the ball into the hands of Kop before Terland headed wide from a corner at the back post.
However, just after the hour mark, we had our third of the afternoon and there was some more magic from Holdt in the build-up. After turning her marker inside our own half, Holdt charged towards United’s box before sliding in Thomas on the right of the area and she made no mistake against her former side, firing home into the roof of the net. Moments later, as we entered the final quarter of the game, substitute Rolfo fired over the bar from six yards out before United did pull a goal back when Ella Toone volleyed home from the left of the box and into the far corner.
That provided hope for the hosts, and came inches away from a second shortly after as Toone's half-volley smashed against the crossbar - the fourth time the woodwork was struck by United. But they were given another huge lifeline with eight minutes left on the clock as, after Park and Malard saw efforts blocked inside the box, Rolfo was there to drive the ball home and reduce the deficit to just one in the closing stages. The home side pushed for a late equaliser and, despite withstanding heavy pressure, the opportunities finally prevailed in the fifth minute of stoppage time. It came from Leah Galton’s low cross to the back post which was converted from close range by Rolfo for her second of the game to complete a late comeback and see the points shared in the final WSL game of the calendar year.
