MANCHESTER, England – Manchester United scored two second-half goals but Manchester City, who had 10 players for most of the match after Georgia Stanway was sent off, grabbed a point in a thrilling 2-2 draw in their Women’s Super League derby clash.
Visitors City saw Stanway dismissed in the 35th minute when she was given a straight red card for a dangerous studs-up challenge on Leah Galton, but they still managed to take the lead through Khadija Shaw three minutes later, Reuters reported.
United struck back in the second-half with quick-fire goals by Lucy Stanforth and Alex Russo in the 72nd and 75th minutes respectively, but Ellen White pulled the visitors level again four minutes later with an opportunistic finish.
The point lifts United to third spot in the table on 10 points after five games, while City is ninth on four points.
City, runners-up last season, came into this match off the back of a third successive league defeat – their longest losing run in the WSL.
Taylor had been forced to answer questions on his future, while he urged his players to “remain positive” before what would be a crucial derby.
He went through all the emotions on the touchline – arguing with the officials despite Stanway’s challenge meriting a red card, three minutes before celebrating summer signing Shaw’s header from an unmarked position in the box.
That 1-0 lead for City lasted 34 minutes but United, who carried far more of an attacking threat in the second-half, dealt a double blow when substitute Lucy Staniforth – who may have been offside – flicked in Ella Toone’s cross, before Alessia Russo brilliantly rolled in a second from 12 yards.
Teenager Park, only on the pitch for three minutes, saw her strike stunningly fingertipped onto the underside of the crossbar by Mary Earps, but White was quickest to react, tapping in the loose ball with just over 10 minutes remaining.
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