By Steven Boucher
It was winner-takes-all on Wednesday night when Aston Villa met Manchester United in Premier Girls Group A action. United knew a draw would be enough to see them claim top spot in the group, while the Villans needed all three points to leap-frog their opponents.
The largest crowd of the week descended upon Dixon Park, and United treated them to a bright start, putting the ball in behind the Villa full-backs for wingers Jessica Wachaku and Tia Brookes. It was Pixie Bradley, though, who opened the scoring on the 8th minute for Man U, with a well-placed left footed strike.
Villa struggled to get any patterns of play together after conceding, but were disappointed to see a penalty shout waved off in the 15th minute. Bradley and Brookes continued to shine for the Mancunians, but couldn’t find the telling chance, while Freya Hirons was proving a handful for the United defence. She regularly brought her teammates into the game with good hold up play, but saw her best chance of the half gathered well by Evie Mitchell in the Manchester net. Florence Handy also couldn’t capitalise on a mistake in the United backline.
Halftime: Man U 1-0 Villa
The early moments of the second half saw Aston Villa start to grow in the game, largely controlling the ball through midfielders Isabella Gurling and Florence Handy. Gurling had a few shots from distance, while both players showed an eye for a defence-splitting pass. The Villa pressure was mounting, and on several occasions corner kicks and free kicks led to pinball in the box, with the United defence scrambling but holding firm. Goalie Mitchell also saved impressively multiple times, but Villa will have been disappointed not to test her more, with a few good chances being blazed high or wide.
It was the 59th minute, though, when Aston Villa finally got the goal they deserved. Paulina Sielaczek rushed Mitchell on a short pass-back, getting the better of the 50-50, and with the ball landing at her feet Hirons showed good composure to dispatch into the empty net.
This set up a grandstand finish, with United trying to hold on to the draw and top spot in the group, and Villa knowing a winner would send them to the final. Both sides left everything on the field, but it was United who managed to stifle Villa’s attacks, Mitchell saving one last time in the final minute from Evie Mae Buchanan to seal the win.
Fulltime: Man U 1-1 Villa
After the game Villa’s coach Hugo Rodrigues said he was proud of his team’s performance. “First half I felt we had more to show. But second half we showed why we have so many internationals in our squad, playing good football against not just anyone, but a big club like Manchester United. We created loads of chances but needed perhaps a bit more luck in front of net. Perhaps some finishing practice next week. We scored 7 yesterday, so maybe we used up all our goals then. There was a lot of emotion in this game, it’s the 3rd day of the tournament, and that can drain you, but we performed as a big club. I’m very proud to be their coach. At half time I told them they had an extra gear to go, and they grafted and showed why they are such good players.”
Melissa Brown, meanwhile, in the Manchester dugout, was pleased her side were able to wrap up top position in Group A. “Both sides tonight were really strong. We took our chance when it came, and then defended with our lives when they attacked really well. I think a draw is probably a fair result. The girls deserve top spot, though, going undefeated in 3 games in 3 days, which has left all them all shattered. But we’ve got a day of rest now, and are excited for the final on Friday.”
By winning Group A Manchester United have set up a marquee final against Northern Ireland, this Friday 2pm at Dixon Park.