REWIND: Manchester United record first-ever victory by beating Liverpool

Newly-formed FA Women’s Championship side Manchester United secured a first-ever victory in their very first game as they defeated Liverpool 1-0 in an FA Women’s Continental League Cup group match at Prenton Park in August 2018.

Casey Stoney’s side had better chances to score than the hosts but they had to wait 83 minutes before Lizzie Arnot made history in netting the only goal of the game, United’s first in competitive football.

Manchester United started well in Birkenhead and both Arnot and Jess Sigsworth sent early chances wide of the Liverpool goal.

Former Doncaster Rovers Belles forward Sigsworth looked a real danger and she soon went close again but headed wide from an Alex Greenwood corner kick.

Liverpool’s star in the first half was their goalkeeper Anke Preuss, that very much told the story of the opening 45 minutes as United dominated. The Reds keeper was called into action twice towards the end of the half, first saving a Greenwood free-kick before making herself big to deny Sigsworth.

The hosts were a little better after half-time and substitute Courtney Sweetman-Kirk fired an effort just over the bar as Neil Redfearn’s side searched for the game’s opening goal.

Manchester United nearly broke the deadlock themselves through one of their own substitutes. Leah Galton found herself one-on-one with Preuss but yet again, the keeper came out on top.

Sweetman-Kirk then forced a rare save from United keeper Siobhan Chamberlain before Stoney’s side netted the winner seven minutes from time when Greenwood was given too much space on the left and she played a deadly ball across goal which was bundled home by teammate Arnot.

Christie Murray almost rescued a point at the death but her free-kick hit the post before the ball was cleared as it was to be United’s day and one which will be looked back on as the first milestone in their history.

Source: www.manutd.com

About The Author

Daniel Pentland

I am the editor and owner of the WSL Full-Time brand which I launched in 2018.

I am an accredited journalist with the FWA, SJA and AIPS. I have reported from various levels of men’s and women’s elite football since 2016.

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