It was another night marked down in the history books for Manchester United, beating PSG 2-1 on the first ever European night at Old Trafford.
The hosts were dealt an early warning when Jennifer Echegini rattled the post from 25 yards out inside two minutes, and early signs of battle between Anna Sandberg and Rasheedat Ajibade, promised for a thrilling encounter.
PSG started the game well, using their physical advantage to dominate space, but it was Melivine Malard who opened the scoring, becoming the first Manchester United women’s player to score a Champions League goal at the club’s main ground.
A pin-point long ball sent over the top from Jade Riviere in her own half, sent Malard bursting up the pitch beating Griedge Mbock Bathy in both pace and strength. The forward curled her shot expertly into the far corner, leaving Mary Earps with little chance to deny her.
The party was briefly paused when an Olga Carmona wonder goal sent the sides in level moments before the break, a strike that Champions League debutant Safia Middleton-Patel stood no chance in keeping out.
She did however, do well to keep PSG out almost immediately after the restart, getting both hands to a Anaïs Ebayilin strike and turning it onto the woodwork.
On the hour mark, a magnificent glancing header from seasoned Champions League goalscorer Fridolina Rolfö saw Manchester United restore their lead, and celebrations among the 14,667 fans that had turned up for the highly anticipated occasion resumed.
United, jeered on by the awoken home fans, seemed to come alive, and with a renewed sense of hunger up front fired themselves into another gear.
Malard almost claimed her second when she forced Earps into a save at the near post, but the effort was parried away.
United then weathered a late spell of pressure from PSG in the closing stages of the game, with the backline quartet of Sandberg, Gabby George, Maya Le Tissier, and Riviere standing on high alert to keep Middleton-Patel well protected.
United now extend their European run to three wins out of three – an impressive record for a team navigating their debut campaign in this esteemed competition. They climb to third in the league, sitting amongst the likes of Champions League royalty Barcelona, and OL Lyonnes.
Meanwhile, PSG are slumped at 16th, pointless after their first three matches. It was a less than ideal return to old stomping grounds for Earps, who received boos from home fans several times on the night.
For Manchester United, they return to WSL action at the weekend, taking on rivals Manchester City in Saturday’s derby at the Etihad.
Starting XIs:
Manchester United (4-3-3): Middleton-Patel (GK), Sandberg, George, Le Tissier (c), Riviere; Z. Olme, Awujo, Miyazawa; Rolfö, Malard, Park
PSG (4-3-3): Earps (GK); Isabela, de Almeida, Mbock Bathy, Carmona; Ebayilin, Groenen, Karchaoui; Ajibade, Leuchter, Echegini
Featured image courtesy of André Zahn via Wikimedia Commons. No changes made to this image. License details found here.