Late Turner winner keeps Man Utd title dream alive

3 years ago 34

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Leah Galton celebrates scoring Manchester United's first goal

Manchester United moved six points clear at the top of the Women's Super League after Millie Turner's stoppage time header secured victory at Aston Villa on Friday evening.

They appeared set for a massive setback in their quest for a maiden WSL title when Rachel Daly scored twice in the first half for Villa, either side of a Leah Galton strike.

The England international now has 17 WSL goals this season, the joint most in the league.

However, Nikita Parris pulled United level again on the hour mark, before Turner powered in a Katie Zelem free kick in the fourth minute of added time to seal three points in one of the most exciting games of the season.

Villa hit the bar twice, while United were denied a goal shortly before half-time due to a questionable foul on home goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.

United are now six points ahead of Manchester City, who play on Sunday, while they are seven clear of reigning champions Chelsea, who do not play this weekend due to Champions League commitments and now have three games in hand on the leaders.

Turner snatches win in scintillating game

Centre-back Turner has been key for a United defence which before tonight had kept more WSL clean sheets than concede league goals before this match.

However it is at the other end where she has perhaps made her two most important contributions this season with last gasp headers - away to Arsenal in November and then tonight.

It came right at the end of a game where United's dreams of a maiden WSL title - just five years after they were founded - appeared to be turning into a nightmare.

Not even the tightest back line in England could cope with Daly on this form for long periods, nor with Villa's threat from set-pieces.

United sold Lucy Staniforth to Villa in January. That sale appeared priceless to their title rivals when the midfielder's perfectly driven corner after nine minutes was met with a Daly header that looped over Mary Earps and inside the far post.

Staniforth almost repeated the trick midway through the first half, finding Anna Patten with an identical corner which the centre back guided just higher than Daly and off the crossbar.

The visitors were sparked into life by Daly's opener and levelled six minutes later through Galton, who evaded her marker and slid home Ona Batlle's superb low cross from the right.

United came close to taking the lead, Villa goalkeeper Hampton making a fine reaction save from Galton, however Daly was in irrepressible form.

Her swivelling volley from Maz Pacheco's low cross moved her level with City's Khadija Shaw in the WSL Golden Boot table.

More follows.

Line-ups

Aston Villa Women

Formation 4-3-3

1Hampton
2Mayling
15Patten
14Turner
33PachecoBooked at 90mins
10Dali
12StaniforthBooked at 27mins
31LittlejohnBooked at 32minsSubstituted forLehmannat 63'minutes
19Blindkilde Brown
8Daly
88NobbsBooked at 11mins

Substitutes

4Allen
7Lehmann
11Boye-Hlorkah
21Leat
22Magill
24Keitley

Man Utd Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

27Earps
2Batlle
15Le Tissier
5MannionSubstituted forTurnerat 87'minutes
6Blundell
12Ladd
10ZelemBooked at 70mins
22ParrisSubstituted forThomasat 77'minutes
7TooneSubstituted forBøe Risaat 90+1'minutes
11GaltonSubstituted forGarcíaat 77'minutes
23RussoSubstituted forWilliamsat 77'minutes

Substitutes

8Bøe Risa
9Thomas
14Riviere
17García
20Tounkara
21Turner
28Williams
29Cascarino
32Baggaley

Referee:Lisa Benn

Attendance:4,176

Live Text

Match ends, Aston Villa Women 2, Manchester United Women 3.
Second Half ends, Aston Villa Women 2, Manchester United Women 3.
Goal! Aston Villa Women 2, Manchester United Women 3. Millie Turner (Manchester United Women) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Katie Zelem with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women).
Vilde Bøe Risa (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Manchester United Women. Vilde Bøe Risa replaces Ella Toone.
Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Katie Zelem (Manchester United Women).
Attempt blocked. Ella Toone (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ona Batlle.
Substitution, Manchester United Women. Millie Turner replaces Aoife Mannion.
Attempt missed. Martha Thomas (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rachel Williams.
Attempt blocked. Ella Toone (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucía García.
Offside, Aston Villa Women. Lucy Staniforth tries a through ball, but Jordan Nobbs is caught offside.
Offside, Aston Villa Women. Hannah Hampton tries a through ball, but Rachel Daly is caught offside.
Offside, Manchester United Women. Ella Toone tries a through ball, but Rachel Williams is caught offside.
Offside, Manchester United Women. Mary Earps tries a through ball, but Lucía García is caught offside.
Offside, Aston Villa Women. Hannah Hampton tries a through ball, but Alisha Lehmann is caught offside.
Foul by Rachel Williams (Manchester United Women).
Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.