Ibrahim Oladamola
Manchester United ensured the WSL title race will continue until the final day of the season with a 2-1 derby win over 10-player Manchester City.
If United had dropped points, Emma Hayes’ Blues would have been crowned champions without kicking a ball.
Hayley Ladd’s stunner inside the first two minutes gave the hosts the lead and, between Chloe Kelly hitting the crossbar on two occasions, City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck was sent off for a reckless challenge on Nikita Parris.
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The visitors did work their way back into the game, when Filippa Angeldahl’s cross dropped over the line after being misjudged by Mary Earps, but Lucia Garcia delighted a packed Leigh Sports Village with a dramatic winner in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.
United stay second, two points behind Chelsea ahead of next Saturday’s final day, knowing that a win against Liverpool and a slip-up by the Blues – either a defeat at Reading or a draw with a six-goal swing – would see them lift the title instead.
The result also means fourth-placed City are unlikely to make next season’s Champions League. They need to win their final game against Everton, hope Arsenal lose at home to Villa, and achieve an 11-goal swing.
