Manchester City Women's perfect start to the Women's Super League season was halted by a late Manchester United equaliser in a 1-1 draw on Sunday. Khadija Shaw gave the visitors the lead midway through the second half before Elisabeth Terland struck with a minute of normal time remaining.
Shaw broke the deadlock in the 66th minute, finishing a move created by Mary Fowler. The goal was the Jamaican striker's seventh in six WSL appearances this season, reinforcing her status as the league's top scorer. City, who had won their opening six matches, looked set to extend their lead at the summit to five points.
United pressed for a response and found it in the 89th minute through Terland. The result means City's 100% record is over, but they retain first place in the WSL standings with 18 points from seven games, now two points clear of Chelsea. Manchester United remain in fifth place with 11 points.
How the match unfolded
City controlled 55% of possession and created the better chances, registering 17 shots to United's 11. Goalkeeper Yamashita was called into action for four saves, matching her opposite number. The first half was a cagey affair, with Mary Fowler and Lauren Hemp both receiving yellow cards for City. United's best chance of the opening period fell to Nikita Parris, whose effort was blocked.
The game opened up after Shaw's opener. Both managers made a flurry of substitutions in the final quarter, with City introducing Kerstin Casparij, Grace Clinton, Niamh Charles and Sydney Lohmann in an attempt to see out the win. United's changes, including the introduction of Lea Schuller, eventually paid dividends. The equaliser came from a cross that was only partially cleared, falling for Terland to fire a low shot into the corner from the edge of the box.
Manager Andrée Jeglertz's side now turn their attention to European competition. They host Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Thursday at the Academy Stadium, a key fixture in their group stage campaign. Shaw's consistent scoring form, with three goals in her last two outings, will be vital for both contests. The team's next WSL assignment is a home match against Tottenham Hotspur next weekend.
