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6 hours ago
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The England midfielder Ella Toone scored a hat-trick as Manchester United recorded their first away win at Manchester City, in a derby that was defined by an error-strewn display from the young City goalkeeper Khiara Keating.
The lively match was at odds with the standout theme of Manchester United’s season so far – clean sheets but not enough goals of their own. On Sunday they took greater risks and were rewarded aplenty as they moved above their sloppy neighbours and into third in the table.
This was a Manchester derby that was missing several of the two teams’ big-name stars – the home side were without important players including their usual captain, Alex Greenwood, her fellow England international Lauren Hemp and their top scorer, Khadija Shaw, all through injury. United’s midfield duo of Grace Clinton and Simi Awujo were fit enough only for the bench, while their Norway international Lisa Naalsund remained out.
City, who were also without Chloe Kelly as doubts about her future at the club continue to intensify, were undeniably fielding a weakened squad. None of that, though, could excuse the shambolic nature of the first-half defending from Gareth Taylor’s side, with Keating in particular enduring a torrid opening 45 minutes.
Keating repeatedly gave away possession with wayward passes, under pressure from United’s high-pressing frontline. The visitors could easily have found themselves with a four or five-goal lead had the Norway striker Elisabeth Terland not spurned two excellent opportunities that were offered to her and had Leah Galton’s early effort not struck the side netting. Terland poked wide in the first 30 seconds and, with just over a minute gone, Toone placed a shot straight at Keating, as the home side appeared to be sleepwalking into the contest.
Marc Skinner’s team went ahead when Toone scored her first Manchester derby goal, having been set up skilfully by a flick from the Japan midfielder Hinata Miyazawa, and Galton bundled in the second from a corner despite a suspicion of offside. Toone then took advantage of another loose Keating pass to make it 3-0, and things were getting embarrassing for City.
However, their fit-again Netherlands forward Vivianne Miedema, deployed in the No 9 position owing to Shaw’s continued absence, headed in Mary Fowler’s cross in the 40th minute to breathe life into the match and when the Germany defender Rebecca Knaak headed in a debut goal in first-half stoppage time from Fowler’s corner, suddenly, and rather inexplicably, United had only a one-goal advantage at half-time.
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If City were hoping the second goal would give them momentum going into the second half, within 10 seconds of the restart they were thinking again, after another calamitous mistake from Keating. Receiving the ball straight from the kick-off, the 20-year-old’s pass was charged down by Terland and the ball bounced into Toone’s path to enable the childhood United fan to complete a hat-trick in front of the jubilant away supporters.
Keating, the England youth international goalkeeper, who has been part of Sarina Wiegman’s senior squad, hid her head under her jersey after the visitors’ fourth and was taunted frequently by the travelling fans, who could scarcely believe their eyes. This is not usually a place where they make happy memories. City had won four of their last five home Manchester derbies, drawing the other.
Keating’s woes were exacerbated by a top-class save from Phallon Tullis-Joyce at the other end, as United’s goalkeeper reacted superbly to stop Fowler’s low effort, and the hosts succumbed to a third defeat in four WSL games, after a run of just one loss in their previous 23.
