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Caroline Weir wonder goal caps off dominant Manchester City win as they move ahead of Manchester United

Tom Garry
·17 min read
Caroline Weir celebrating the goal of the season - Reuters
Caroline Weir celebrating the goal of the season - Reuters

A world-class goal from Caroline Weir capped off a priceless victory for Manchester City over local rivals Manchester United that saw them move up to second in the Women’s Super League.

Scotland midfielder Weir’s delightful chip wrapped up the 3-0 win with six minutes remaining and ensured her side leapfrogged their near neighbours in the title race.

City had taken the lead midway through a quiet first half when Fifa Best player of the Year Lucy Bronze stabbed home from a corner which the visitors had failed to clear. Bronze’s strike was deflected as it flew in from close range.

Another deflection aided City’s second goal, as Lauren Hemp fired in off Amy Turner after Chloe Kelly’s fierce, left-footed strike from the right had initially been saved by Mary Earps. But there was nothing but precision about the classy third goal from Weir late on, which will surely be a goal-of-the-season contender.

It sealed City’s seventh consecutive league victory and the result was their most important of that run, after a hard-fought 90 minutes. City are now just two points behind leaders Chelsea, after playing the same amount of games, and will host the defending champions when they meet in April.

United are just a point further back but have played an additional match and, with their titles hopes now out of their own hands, they may well now focus on their original, pre-season target of achieving a top-three finish. To do so they will need to stay above Arsenal, who are nine points behind them but have two games in hand and a superior goal-difference as well as a home game to come against Casey Stoney’s side on 18 March.

After the game Stoney was focused on those Champions League places, telling BT Sport: “This was a big one in terms of the title race but that was never our ambition, our ambition is to finish in the top three. That [a top-three finish] is still in our hands but it’s very important we start picking up points.”

Her side are still fewer than three seasons into their journey since United reformed their senior women’s side in 2018 and this was only their third WSL derby meeting.

In contrast City, who turned professional in 2014, are bidding to add to their seven major trophies. Their form suggests they can do that this term, having now scored 28 times in their past six home league games.

Manchester United's Christen Press misses a chance to score  - Reuters
Manchester United's Christen Press misses a chance to score - Reuters

The hosts could have scored more, with Kelly hitting a swerving shot into the side-netting, while United’s best chances fell to the United States’ Christen Press but she was repeatedly denied by England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck.

“We mentioned just before Christmas that we knew, if we won all of our games, we’d be guaranteed to stay in the top three," City right-back Bronze said. "Now we know if we win all our games we’ll win the title. It’s an exciting [title race] because you don’t know what’s going to happen, but we can only focus on ourselves.”

City boss Gareth Taylor added: “It was a bitterly cold night of football but some of the play was excellent. The third goal was top class, the quality from Caroline, that was some goal.

“We’re the top scorers in the league which is something to be really proud of because we want to play entertaining football.”

09:18 PM

Casey Stoney's reaction

The United manager is keen to remind their ambition "was never" to win the title this season.

"It's a big one in terms of the title race, but that was never our ambition, our ambition was to finish in the top three. It's still in our hands, but it's very important we start picking up points. We've lost too many games this month."

She hasn't got an update on Galton's injury yet, but is looking forward to the international break where hopefully her team can regroup mentally and also get some of her players back healthy.

09:10 PM

Lucy Bronze on THE goal:

Bronze makes the Eric Cantona comparison which is filtering through Twitter reaction too: "Caz Weir's goal was a lot better than mine. It actually was quite Cantona-esque, which is quite ironic. We worked hard for all the goals and could have probably had a couple more."

09:08 PM

Reaction from our very own Tom Garry

We'll have his thoughts in the form of a match report asap.

09:01 PM

THAT Weir goal

You are going to see replays of this all season, and it gets better at every watch really. Look closely for Greenwood's reaction - she is all of us.

Everyone is just admiring it.

08:55 PM

FT: Manchester City 3 - 0 Manchester United

Manchester is blue tonight, and may well be for the season now as City go a point ahead of United in second place with a game in hand.

08:54 PM

90 mins - Manchester City 3 - 0 Manchester United

Bronze is awarded player of the match, but it is Weir who is grinning as she is subbed off just ahead of 90 minutes. She won't be forgetting that goal for a while, and neither will we.

United are down and out but have kept pushing. Stoney brings on Fuso, in a last ditch attempt at salvaging something positive but this is over. Press and Sigsworth's link up play is intercepted again to sum up what has been a disjointed attacking display.

08:47 PM

GOALLLL!!!! 84 mins - Manchester City 3 - 0 Manchester United

WHAT A GOAL. Caroline Weir has just scored an incredible goal.

Again, United fail to properly clear a City attack and Weir is wise to it. The Scot picks it up 20 yards out, her back almost to goal. She squares up with a lovely bit of skill, sweeping the ball from right to left. Then she takes a quick look up and chips the ball with her left foot, over the gawping United back line and looping into the back of the net.

Her fifth goal from as many league games and the moment of quality this match has been crying out for. It arguably rivals her goal in last season's Manchester derby, which earned her a Puskas Award nomination.

City are running away with this, and now bring on World Cup winner Rose Lavelle, as if to show off their comparable strength in depth.

08:42 PM

82 mins - Manchester City 2 - 0 Manchester United

Roebuck is back up, and United can finally take their corner. It finds Thorisdottir's head but her attempt goes far wide of goal.

08:41 PM

80 mins - Manchester City 2 - 0 Manchester United

Hemp threatens to attack in the box, drawing in defenders and then dishes out to Stanway. Stanway hits it first time and her blistering shot comes Amy Turner's face. That looked painful. It goes out for a City corner and Weir's low shot is saved by Earps.

On the other side of the pitch Press makes another good run. She does everything right, and Roebuck rushes out to her again in what looks like precarious positioning but she successfully blocks the American's attempt to chip the ball at goal. Worryingly though Roebuck has gone down with what looks like a neck injury and is getting treatment on the pitch. An action-packed few minutes on pause now.

08:35 PM

74 mins - Manchester City 2 - 0 Manchester United

Two chances in quick succession at both ends.

Press's ball through to Sigsworth rolls just out of reach as United breakaway.

City counter then, and Kelly's shot goes just wide.

08:33 PM

GOALLLL!!! 70 mins - Manchester City 2 - 0 Manchester United

Almost immediately after United make that chnage thy equalise. Kelly's first shot is blocked but not cleared and she picks up the ball again to fire at Earps who makes a brilliant save. The ball falls to Hemp though, who shoots and is quite fortunate - Amy Turner tries to clear off the line but her header rebounds off the inside of the bar and bounces into the back of the net. It's a long way back for United now.

08:29 PM

69 mins - Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

Sigsworth coming on for Ladd. Very positive change from Stoney as she tries to get her team in the best position to equalise here.

08:25 PM

66 mins - Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

Ladd escapes a second yellow for her latest foul, despite Bronze's protestations with the referee. It gives City another set piece to work with though. Their free kick into the box is cleared though, off Amy Turner's head, and bizarrely no corner is awarded for City. United getting away with a few lucky breaks there.

08:22 PM

60 mins - Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

Greenwood clips Toone on the shin, who stays down a little longer than comfortbale for Stoney's injury ravaged side. But she shakes it off.

Zelem's free kick is cleared but United get back the ball and next Press takes a shot from a Thorisdottir cross. Bronze blocks but United get a corner. Though the corner is cleared too, there's more pressure coming City's way, and a through ball to a rushing Press is only just intercepted a couple of minutes later.

They're not clearcut chances but one could drop if they keep this up. It could be a nervy last half hour for the home side.

08:17 PM

53 mins - Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

Another Press chance for United. Thorisdottir's ball from deep in United's half goes over Press's head and she controls it on the run. She's 40 yards out but already has City's defenders beat, so Roebuck makes the decision to rush out to her. It's a risky choice but the right one, as it forces Press to try her chance at lobbing her, and she hits it over the bar.

08:11 PM

49 mins - Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

Press with a promising chance for United that just falls short.

She times her run perfectly, receives the ball and dips into the box, bypassing Bronze and Houghton. But her shot is saved by Roebuck. She couldn't get enough power from her kickback, a real shame as that would have been a great goal.

08:07 PM

47 mins - Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

City have started brightly and as usual get a chance from the wing.

On the break, Hemp's pass inside finds White, whose first-touch shot is saved well by Earps.

08:05 PM

We're back underway

Second half coming next!

08:04 PM

In case you missed it

United's Lauren James, still just 19, highlighted abhorrent racist abuse she fielded on her social media this week. She wrote exclusively for Telegraph Sport calling for an end to anonymous accounts and racist emojis. It's a powerful read - find it here.

08:01 PM

Review of that first half

That wasn't exhilarating football by any stretch. And the match hasn't had the kind of magic moment worthy of the hype it icked up this week.

City look much more comfortable than United have but I am buoyed by the fact United are only a goal down. They have come out of the tunnel after an average first half looking like a new team before - namely against City in November. Stoney looked ready to unleash a choice word or two as she headed into the dressing room so we could see a re-energised side return.

07:50 PM

HT: Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

United hold on for half-time. Getting back into this game became a lot more difficult after Galton's exit as she joins her injury-depleted squad on the sidelines.

07:47 PM

45 mins - Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

United are temporarily down to 10 players as they defend a City corner which Weir keeps alive.

Eventually, Kirsty Hanson comes on to replace Galton.

07:44 PM

43 mins - Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

Bad news for United and Casey Stoney, as Leah Galton is getting treatment on her lower-left leg. She looked to go down by herself, possibly turning over her ankle. This would be a huge loss, as Galton has been a main source of goals for the squad with her six this season.

Hobbling off she looks visibly upset, unable to put any weight on her foot.

07:42 PM

39 mins - Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

Greenway's ball into White is dangerous. Her first shot is blocked but she goes for glory on the rebound with an overhead kick. Earps's reactions are good though and she gets to the ground to save. A great chance for the league's all-time top-scorer.

07:39 PM

37 mins - Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

United are having a good couple of minutes. A cross into Press sees her header bounce towards Roebuck who saves. It was a simple one for the goalkeeper to deal with, Press probably further away from the target than she realised, but the chance came out of nowhere. City need to keep focused.

07:36 PM

33 mins - Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

United get a chance after Greenway fouls Toone.

United Skipper Zelem curls the free kick into the box, and City struggle to clear after Galton got her head to it. The ball falls to Ladd who, back to the goal, volleys from close range, but her shot goes just wide. That was United's best chance of the match so far and very similar to City's goal.

07:32 PM

28 mins - Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

It's all City at the moment.

At first glance Stanway looks to be curling in a cross, after teasing Batlle on the wing, but her shot scoops only just over the top netting and Earps got a bit of a scare in goal there.

Next Stanway is fouled from 25 yards out by Ladd who gets a yellow card for her trouble. Greenwood's free kick hits the wall though and she scuffs her shot on the rebound. City have all the momentum here.

07:26 PM

GOALL!! Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

City take the lead!

Greenwood whips in a corner, and United's Amy Turner's clearance header pings high into the air. City's White gets a head to it and it falls to Bronze who controls it enough to get her shot in the back of the net. City took their chance but United's defending wasn't great.

They conceded twice from set pieces on Sunday too.

07:22 PM

18 mins - Manchester City 0 - 0 Manchester United

United breakaway and catch City out of position. Groenen goes on a run, feeding the ball through to Galton who crosses into Press in the penalty area, but Houghton is there to clear.

A moment that looks to have shaken City out of a comfortable, easy possession play they were adjusting into and a reminder of how quickly United can transition into attack-mode.

07:18 PM

14 mins - Manchester City 0 - 0 Manchester United

City have had more possession, and a nice bit of play saw Greenwood cross into Kelly in the box, but she's at an awkward angle to goal and plays the ball into space. United clear easily though.

Closest we've come to a chance, but it is slim pickings in the final third.

07:10 PM

9 mins - Manchester City 0 - 0 Manchester United

A slow start. Both teams are still feeling their way into this game and no chances to report. Kelly seeing more of the ball than Casey Stoney will want though.

07:06 PM

3 mins - Manchester City 0 - 0 Manchester United

Batlle wins the first battle with Kelly on the wing, steering the ball clear of the City player after she was initially beaten to the ball.

07:02 PM

Hold tight

Kick off incoming!

07:00 PM

City's formidable front three

Lauren Hemp, Ellen White and Chloe Kelly lead City's attacking line-up and they have been in ruthless form of late.

White last weekend became the WSL's all-time top-scorer, and has four goals from her last four WSL appearances, while Hemp has made an impressive comeback from injury in recent weeks. Winger Kelly however has been on another level when it comes to creating opportunities for team-mates, with eight assists overall.

United will have a tough time containing them.

06:50 PM

Line ups for tonight!

Here's City:

And United:

06:42 PM

Hello and welcome..

It's a Manchester Derby under the lights this eve, and perhaps the meeting of these two sides in the league with more riding on it than ever before.

Last time they met in the WSL back in November, United recovered from a 2-0 deficit to share points with City. But at that point the title race was still in its relative infancy. Tonight, both teams are vying for more than glory as they continue in their chase of Chelsea at the top of the table.

A win for City would help them overtake United into second place and trail Chelsea by only two points. They are the in form team, with 25 goals from their last six matches, eight wins from their last nine and brimming with confidence after a decisive win over Arsenal last weekend. The only team in the top four to win last weekend, they are the club on the ascendancy after an unsure start with new manager Gareth Taylor at the start of the season.

Meanwhile United are licking their wounds after a loss to Reading at home. It was a slip up that coincided with Chelsea's shock loss to Brighton - so meant United didn't slip further away but saw the opportunity to regain the top spot slip through their fingers. Key attacking threats like Tobin Heath and Lauren James are injured, and they have had a mixed bag of results of late. Whether they can regain some confidence and go joint top here tonight with a statement, potentially season-defining win is the question.

We'll keep you updated with throughout the evening. KO at 7pm - stay with us!