WOMEN RECAP: Manchester United vs Birmingham

Manchester United Women vs Birmingham Women Match Recap

Manchester United Women brushed off their defeat to Chelsea with a dominant showing against Birmingham City, winning 2-0. Leah Galton gave the visitors a first-half lead from 6-yards, before Ella Toone doubled the lead in the 80th minute; Hannah Blundell provided the assist for both.

Set Up

Manchester United: Earps, Batlle, Thorisdottir, Mannion, Blundell, Zelem (c), Groenen; Russo (Boe Risa 71), Staniforth (Hanson 45), Galton (Jones 90+2), Toone.

First Half

The visiting team dominated possession and created chance after chance without much push-back from the home team. It didn’t take them long to get the opening goal, with a clean run from Blundell. The left-back took all of three touches to set up teammate Galton for a clinical finish, thus giving the Reds the lead.

United continued to assert their dominance in attack, with Alessia Russo especially pushing her team forward every time she got possession of the ball. There was little else to show for such a strong showing, no thanks to the Birmingham City defense. Toone played the ball to Jackie Groenen, but keeper Emily Ramsey — on loan from United — came to claim the ball.

Second Half

United wasted no time after the break, looking for another goal with Russo spearheading the attack. She charged forward with the ball to meet Galton, who was flying down the left wing. She timed her pass to Galton perfectly, who shot the ball past the post.

The hosts refused to go quietly and fought their way back into the match despite having nothing to show for it. They didn’t give United keeper Mary Earps much trouble, but did challenge her for a 10-minute period of attack. Earps did well to save a brilliant corner that would certainly have gone into the top corner. She also made a few follow-up saves before United found form again and regained control.

Toone finally gave the visitors the second goal with 10 minutes left in the match. She had a chance mere minutes before, chipping the ball past the keeper to see her shot ricochet off the post. Instead, Birmingham caved under the pressure as Katie Zelem supplied Blundell with a pass to leave the Birmingham defense in shambles. Blundell controlled the ball well to play it back to Toone, who then only had to tap-in the ball to extend the visitors’ lead.

Wrap up

United had several chances throughout the match, especially after their second goal as Birmingham succumbed to the onslaught, but United failed to capitalise as they were lacking in the ruthlessness that would’ve allowed them to keep scoring.

Winning 3 of their opening 4 matches, Man United Women sit 4th in the table, trailing behind Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur.