Manchester City have inflicted another derby day defeat on Manchester United after running out 4-1 winners in a Vitality Women’s FA Cup fifth round tie at the Leigh Sports Village this afternoon.
It was not just bragging rights that were up for grabs in Leigh, there was also a place in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals on the line. The match was finely poised with the red half of Manchester looking to get some revenge on their rivals whilst Gareth Taylor’s Manchester City would have been hoping to do a double over United in as many games.
Although the away side started strongly, it was first blood to the hosts. City had looked vulnerable from corners early on in the tie with Maria Thorisdottir heading over from close range and that was how The Red Devils found the breakthrough. A wicked cross curled in by Katie Zelem from the right was just beyond the grasp of visiting keeper Ellie Roebuck and the ball dipped enough to nestle into the back of the net.
With his team second best in the opening period, City boss Taylor made a double switch at half-time as he introduced Hayley Raso and Caroline Weir into the fray. The latter has been the scourge of United in the past, however, it was Raso who proved decisive in getting her side back into the game. The Australian international crossed from the right and her ball found Lauren Hemp at the back post who coolly placed it through the legs of Ona Batlle and into the bottom corner.
That was just the start of United’s misery. An innocuous ball over the top was headed by the backtracking Hannah Blundell, however, her header lacked the pace to reach her keeper and was latched onto by Ellen White. The striker rounded the keeper and finished into an empty net.
Two goals then swiftly became three and it almost inevitably came from Weir as she confounded a miserable few minutes for Marc Skinner’s side. Hemp cut the ball back for the midfielder who let rip towards the near post. Earps appeared to have it covered but the ball crept underneath the United stopper in a moment that she won’t want to watch back any time soon.
United then looked to be growing back into the game as they forced a couple of errors from Roebuck, yet, just as they were in the ascension, City put the game to bed. A vicious shot by Julie Blakstad was deflected and Earps could only parry. The ball fell right at the feet of Khadija Shaw who tapped in from three yards out with her first touch of the match.
The game finished 4-1 to the travelling Cityzens, their biggest-ever victory at the Leigh Sports Village, as they advanced into the last eight of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup. As for United, it is yet another fixture against a ‘top three’ opponent where they have fallen short, therefore, it is back to drawing board once again with the sole focus now being on UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification.
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