Manchester is Red – Victory for Manchester United in the derby at the Etihad | OneFootball

Ella Toone helped herself to a hat-trick as Manchester United defeated neighbours Manchester City 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium this evening.

The Red Devils capitalised on some poor Manchester City errors to record their first ever-win against their rivals on blue and white territory.

Manchester United were the side to strike first in the derby when Hinata Miyazawa passed the ball to Toone. The England international ran across the field before expertly sending the ball over the head of home keeper Khiara Keating and into the back of the net.

The visitors got their second goal of the evening seven minutes later through Leah Galton. A corner kick was delivered to the back post and the ball hit the knee of Aoba Fujino before eventually falling Galton’s way. The attacker made no mistake in firing the ball into the back of the net.

Manchester City looked to fight back and Vivianne Miedema played a ball to Fujino but she could only send a shot wide of goal.

The visitors then got their third goal nine minutes before half-time. Celin Bizet Ildushøy intercepted the ball from a short Keating pass and found Toone, who tapped her shot past the Manchester City keeper.

Just before half-time, the hosts clawed one back through Miedema. Mary Fowler delivered the ball into the box where the Dutchwoman was on-hand to head it beyond Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

Jill Roord then almost reduced the arrears further but was denied by Tullis-Joyce before recent signing Rebecca Knaak’s perfect header did bring the scoreline back to 3-2.

Despite Manchester City getting themselves back into the game, it was Manchester United who opened the scoring just 13 seconds into the second half. Elisabeth Terland charged down a Keating clearance and Toone managed to fire the loose ball home from close range to complete her hat-trick.

Manchester City re-focused and pushed hard to get back into the game but they found visiting keeper Tullis-Joyce in inspired form and were unable to overturn the two-goal deficit.

The two sides meet again at the Leigh Sports Village on Wednesday evening when they contest a Subway Women’s League Cup quarter-final.