A total of 44,259 supporters witnessed City and United play out a thrilling 1-1 draw - a Club record attendance for a women’s fixture and the second highest in WSL history.
It was a particularly unforgettable experience for the 22 young mascots who lined up in the tunnel and escorted the players onto the pitch at the Etihad Stadium.
The mascots were all Junior Cityzens members or competition winners, with others also nominated by the Club’s charity and hospitality partners.
Decked out in full 2022/23 kit, the young fans greeted the players on the Blue Carpet as they arrived at the Etihad, enjoyed a pre-match photoshoot with Club mascots Moonchester and Moonbeam.
Onuoha was joined by City legend Karen Bardsley as part of our Matchday Live coverage of the fixture, and he believes the occasion has the potential to be a watershed moment for many young fans, including his own daughter.
The former City defender said: “I have an eight-year-old daughter, and she was watching the England game with me [on Saturday], and she was okay with it.
“But then when I sat with her during this game she was like: ‘Come on City!’ and really excited about it.
“Maybe this matters more to her because she sees people just like her out there on the field and sees 40,000 people come to watch women play football.
“In her mind she might have though it was a men’s sport, but she sees now that football is a sport for all.
“This stuff goes a long, long way.”
For more information on becoming a Junior Member or how to enter for the chance to be a matchday mascot at the Etihad Stadium, visit this page.
The Player Mascot Experience is open to all Cityzens Junior Members or Season Ticket Members aged between 5 and 12.
