Manchester United Women vs Everton Women. Women's Super League.
Old TraffordAttendance20,241.
Match report and highlights as Man Utd Women win first match in front of fans at Old Trafford; WSL record crowd of 20, 241; Alessia Russo scores twice to earn 3-1 win over Everton; victory moves third-placed United three points clear of Man City in race for final Champions League place
Sunday 27 March 2022 21:08, UK
Manchester United Women won their first match in front of fans at Old Trafford after a 3-1 comeback victory over Everton that keeps their Champions League hopes alive.
Alessia Russo's two headed goals gave third-place United the win that moves them three points clear of rivals Manchester City in the race for the third and final Champions League place.
United's women's side were playing at Old Trafford for just the second time, having played there a year ago against West Ham but with no crowd in attendance due to coronavirus restrictions.
However, the excitement of the 20,241-crowd on Sunday - the largest of the WSL season so far and United Women's record attendance - quickly subsided as Everton took a surprise lead in the fourth minute following Claire Emslie's low drive into the bottom corner.
United got themselves level in the 35th-minute as Russo scored a looping header from an Ona Batlle cross.
The home side were then awarded a penalty early in the second half following a clumsy tackle by Everton substitute Lucy Graham on Martha Thomas. United captain Katie Zelem scored the penalty to give United the lead in the 54th-minute.
Russo sealed the comeback win with another header in the 84th minute - her ninth WSL goal of the season.
The victory keeps Marc Skinner's side third, although fourth-placed City can draw level with United on points if they win their game in hand against bottom side Birmingham, after their home game against the Blues on Sunday was postponed due to coronavirus cases in the away side.
Meanwhile, Everton remain ninth, 13 points clear of the relegation place.
Manchester United boss Marc Skinner says the victory over Everton at Old Trafford showed how important the club can be for the growth of women's football.
Skinner became emotional when he talked about his own mother being at the game, and he was proud of his players for the way they recovered from Emslie's early goal.
He said: "We didn't get to the speed of the game quickly enough but we're human. To say we felt the emotions in the first part would be fair. Almost the best thing Everton did was to score because it kind of kick-started us.
"I don't want rubbish cliches but I think women's football won today. I think it shows the magnitude and impact this club can have in growing the game. That for me is a wonderful thing."
Fittingly it was two United fans who were on the scoresheet, with Russo scoring twice either side of Zelem's penalty.
"I tried to speak to Zel afterwards but, for her to score a penalty in the Stretford End, and then for Alessia to score as well when she's probably got a million dreams of that happening, what a wonderful way to seal a dream," said Skinner.
"But what we've got to make sure is we capture this moment but we have to use it as a projection point to continue the growth so that this is not a one-off. Our club is going to be a key part in helping develop and push women's football forwards."
The crowd was easily United's biggest for a home match, with their typical attendance at their regular home of Leigh Sports Village closer to 3,000.
Skinner knows growing the fanbase will not happen overnight, saying: "I hope they come to support us at Leigh as well and I think that's important.
"But to have them here, to play in front of them - it wasn't a full, complete performance of course - but hopefully they go away proud of their team today. Because I certainly am, and I'm proud of them for turning up.
"Playing in big stadiums will expose us to better experiences. Do you do it all the time? Maybe not right now, but we continue to work towards where we can attract 20,000 people. Why can't we in the future fill Old Trafford and there be that many fans waiting for us?"
Technical director of Manchester City Girls' Academy Jayne Ludlow told Sky Sports:
"Potentially the impetus has swung back to Manchester United, but maybe the disallowed goal could be the decider, who knows?
"However, I'm confident our team are on form right now. They are playing very well and are looking forward to every game that comes.
"Obviously, the game today was postponed but it will come around soon enough, and I'm quietly confident that if the girls keep putting in the performances they have recently then we'll get what we need."
Man Utd host Brighton at Leigh Sports Village in the Women's Super League on April 3; kick-off 12pm. Up next for Everton is an away match at relegation-threatened Birmingham on Friday; kick-off 7pm.
