Women’s Super League: Manchester United come back 2-0 against to draw with Manchester City

Leader Manchester United came off two goals against to maintain their undefeated start in the Women’s Super League against rivals Manchester City.

But two-time World Cup winner Tobin Heath scored a goal for the hosts after 54 minutes.

Substitute Kirsty Hanson then pushed home a deserved leveler in the 74th minute to complete a famous comeback.

United could have won the match in the 89th minute when Demi Stokes cleared Lucy Staniforth’s header line.

Loud neighbors United are now the WSL team

United, who had won their last five league games before this meeting, moved to the top of the WSL table for the first time thanks to their 1-0 victory over Arsenal last time.

But it was City who rushed out of the blocks in the first period with Alex Greenwood and Georgia Stanway, both seeing efforts well saved by Red Devils goalkeeper Mary Earps after Kelly’s opener.

Gareth Taylor’s team could have been three or four goals up at the break, with Kelly and Sam Mewis close again before Coombs’ deserved second place.

But United were a transformed team in the second period and Heath’s powerful goal after a lapse of concentration from the City defense was only a reward for their initial pressure.

Substitute Hanson then completed the comeback, hitting a corner with 16 minutes left on the clock.

Both sides pressed for a late winner, the hosts moving closer when Staniforth’s header from a corner was cut off by Stokes.

City and England captain Steph Houghton ended the game in pain after taking a knee to the back just before full time, but Taylor said it was nothing serious.

The tie means that the FA Cup winners remain fifth in the WSL table while United remains first, ahead of Arsenal’s game with Chelsea on Sunday.

‘This is huge’

“This is only our third year. Our expectations and visions have not changed,” United manager Stoney told BBC Radio Manchester. “We’re just trying to stay in and around [the top] for as long as we can. “

“It is a great credit to the group, this [result] it is massive. You have to regain the belief at halftime and think that you can turn it around.

“That was my key message at halftime that we can turn it around if we toughen up.

“We are in the game at 2-0, we know that once we get the first goal we are back. Then we get the second and in fact I think maybe a little longer we can get the third.

“You have to be really satisfied with the point.”

Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor told BBC Radio Manchester:

“Being 2-0 up, having so much control in the first half, having so many opportunities, it’s disappointing. We always knew that 2-0 was not an easy scoreboard to handle in football.

“I thought it was a classic two-halves game. We completely dominated the first half, we played great things and we couldn’t continue in the second.

“They scored their first goal out of nowhere, and then you face set pieces.”