Late heartbreak for City in the derby

Substitute Lucia Garcia fired home from close-range to claim all three points, despite a gutsy display from Gareth Taylor‘s side.

Indeed, reduced to ten before the break and a goal down courtesy of a stunning early strike from Hayley Ladd, City could’ve wilted under the pressure.

However, after we twice struck the woodwork, Filippa Angeldahl grabbed a deserved equaliser with a speculative long-range effort.

It looked like the points would be shared in a pulsating clash, but Garcia‘s late intervention provided a cruel twist for City in our final away match of the season.

WHAT HAPPENED

As the hot Manchester Sun descended, all eyes turned to the Leigh Sports Village as City kicked off the second Manchester derby of the campaign.

The hosts knew that anything but a victory was required, to have any chance of snatching the title off Chelsea’s hands, and they were quickest out of the traps.

After City surrendered possession just outside our area, Ladd picked up play and struck an exquisite effort into the top right corner of Ellie Roebuck’s net.

Pressure from Marc Skinner’s side continued as Roebuck saved Nikita Parris’ header at the back post to deny a second.

After the early period of pressure, City slowly grew into the contest and began to quieten the home crowd, but were still unable to create anything to test Mary Earps’ goal.

Just before the 20 minute mark, Gareth Taylor’s side carved out our first clear opportunity after great work down the left saw the ball land with Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw.

The Jamaican’s effort was blocked, but the rebound fell to Chloe Kelly, whose volley crashed against the post and was eventually cleared by a red shirt.

Moments later, it was Angeldahl who had a shot inside the box blocked, but Roebuck once again had to be alert to thwart former City forward Parris at the other end soon after.

But the ongoing battle between Roebuck and Parris would reach an unfortunate climax when our goalkeeper clattered into the United winger as she came to meet a ball in behind.

She could have no complaint when referee Rebecca Welch produced the red card, and we were reduced to 10.

The hosts were close to taking advantage soon after as Alessia Russo got onto the end of Hannah Blundell’s teasing cross, but her swinging boot diverted the effort high and wide, as the half drew to a close.

However, City started the second half with the most intent.

Indeed, Kelly would once again strike the woodwork early on, with her header coming back off the underside of the bar from Greenwood’s free kick, with Angeldahl blazing over on the rebound.

United were always a threat on the counter though, and City were thankful to Hemp when the winger tracked Galton’s run in behind to deny the winger a clear sight of goal.

Shaw was next to go close in an end to end contest, forcing an incredible low save from Earps when her header looked destined for the bottom corner.

But eventually our pressure was rewarded, even if it did have an element of fortune about it.

Picking up the loose ball, Angeldahl swung in a cross to the far post which evaded every player in the box and flew over Earps and into the net.

United responded, with Vilde Boe Risa’s long range shot tipped wide by substitute stopper Khiara Keating before the rebounded shot was put wide by Rachael Williams.

Seconds later, we had the ball down at the other end and fellow sub Hayley Raso sent an effort agonisingly wide when the ball landed unexpectedly at her feet after Batlle had failed to clear.

But as we entered six minutes of added time, the hammer blow would fall.

City failed to clear a deep cross into the far post, with Garcia controlling the loose ball and firing through a bunch of City bodies for the winner.

HOW WE LINED UP

Gareth Taylor made one change from our last outing.

Ellie Roebuck started in goal, and was protected by a back four of Leila Ouahbi, Steph Houghton, Alex Greenwood and Esme Morgan.

Yui Hasegawa started in a deep lying midfield role, with Laura Coombs and Filippa Angeldahl pushing further forward in a midfield three.

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw led the line, with Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly supporting closely on the flanks.

Man Utd XI: Earps, O. Batlle, Blundell, Toone, Zelem (C), Galton, Ladd, Le Tissier, Turner, Parris, Russo

Substitutions: Baggaley, Riviere, Tounkara, Boe Rise, Cascarino, Naalsund, L. Garcia, Thomas, Williams

City XI: Roebuck, Ouahabi, Greenwood, Houghton (C), Morgan, Coombs, Hasegawa, Angeldahl, Hemp, Shaw, Kelly

Substitutions: Keating, Casparij, Castellanos, Raso, Dahou

WHAT IT MEANS

Defeat for Gareth Taylor’s side means we remain fourth, three points adrift of Arsenal in third.

UP NEXT

Next weekend, our season draws to a close as we face an Everton at the Academy Stadium.

Kick-off is scheduled 14:30 on Saturday 27 May, and as always, there will be expansive coverage across mancity.com and the official Man City app.