Man City's 100% record ended with Manchester derby draw

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Leigh Sports Village

Elisabeth Terland scored a late equaliser as Manchester United fought back to draw with rivals Manchester City in the Women's Super League at Leigh Sports Village.

The outcome ended City's 100% start to the season, and they now sit level on points with Chelsea at the top of the table.

Holding their neighbours was a huge boost for Eva Olid's United, who have bounced back from a poor start to the campaign to go nine games unbeaten in all competitions.

Terland fired the ball into the roof of the net after City striker Khadija Shaw, who had put her side in front, failed to clear a deep free-kick in the 89th minute.

That capped off a frustrating evening for City, who had not performed to their usual high levels and were put under pressure by United throughout the second half.

Olid's side defended well for large spells and were a constant threat on the counter-attack, eventually capitalising through Terland late on.

The result does not harm City too much at this stage of the season, but it could prove to be a catalyst for United to push on under Olid.

Man Utd analysis: Hosts make impressive fightback

Manchester United have turned things around since their 5-0 drubbing by Chelsea in the second week of the season.

They came into the derby on a six-game winning run in all competitions and have gone back to their roots - defending solidly, pressing aggressively and playing more direct.

Olid hopes to add a sprinkling of her own style as the season progresses but their gameplan against City was clear - to stop them getting the ball to Shaw in the box.

They did it successfully in the first half and frustrated City for large spells, even causing them problems on the break on occasions through Ella Toone, Andrea Medina and Terland.

When the half-time whistle went, City's players were irritated and opposition manager Andree Jeglertz was restless on the touchline.

It was much the same story at the start of the season half, but Shaw, who was heavily marshalled by United captain Maya le Tissier, began to get more involved.

Shaw needed just one chance and took it perfectly when Dominique Janssen allowed her to spin on the edge of the box and she struck the ball powerfully past goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

But United responded well, coming close to an equaliser when Julia Zigiotti blasted over the bar from close range and when Jess Park's strike bounced off the woodwork.

They earned the draw in a chaotic final few minutes in which fireworks were going off outside Leigh Sports Village Stadium, causing a distraction and providing a backdrop for the wild celebrations.

Man City analysis: Frustrations grow as 100% record ends

Jeglertz has successfully rotated his squad this season and did not hesitate to do it again even in the derby, leaving experienced vice-captain Kerstin Casparij on the bench for the first hour.

However, that experience was missing in the first half as City looked disjointed and frustrated, unable to make their dominance count.

The players trudged down the tunnel at half-time with Shaw visibly annoyed having failed to have a shot of any kind, or even a touch inside United's box.

The Jamaica striker was involved in several tussles with United captain Le Tissier, but it appeared the physicality of the match favoured the hosts.

Asked about the challenges on Shaw, Jeglertz said: "It is not becoming anything too unpolite. That's how it is in these games.

"She is very strong and sometimes she gets knocks and hits that takes a lot to make her fall to the ground. Sometimes I feel the level of what [the referees] give her is not right."

As the game went on, even after Shaw had broken the deadlock, City looked more unsettled despite Jeglertz turning to his bench to try to change it.

United put pressure on City and grew in confidence, eventually creating the opportunity to test their defence with a free-kick late on - and it was Shaw who was caught out in the box with a loose header.

City do not have time to dwell on their performance with matches coming up thick and fast in November, but they at least came away with a point despite a patchy display.

Player of the match

E. Terland
7.98
10 E. Terland
7.98
4 M. Le Tissier
7.88
6 Andrea Medina
7.69
91 P. Tullis-Joyce
7.65
8 J. Park
7.63
7 E. Toone
7.62
2 A. Sandberg
7.38
5 H. Lundkvist
7.25
15 J. Zigiotti Olme
7.23
17 D. Janssen
7.11
24 L. Schüller
6.98
13 S. Awujo
6.96
20 H. Miyazawa
6.85
36 M. Griffiths
6.80
23 M. Jusu Bah
6.78
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