Jess Park punishes former club as Man United women beat Everton in the first women’s game at the latter’s new stadium.
In the first Women’s Super League match played at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Manchester United rallied from a goal down to win handily. Everton’s historic day ended in disappointment as Jess Park emerged as the game’s late star.
When Honoka Hayashi’s first-half goal put the home team ahead 1-0, the 18,154 spectators in the Everton men’s team’s new stadium appeared to be in for a joyous celebration. However, Melvine Malard’s equaliser and Hikaru Kitagawa’s own goal meant that the travelling army of roughly 1,000 Manchester United supporters were the ones making all the noise. Two late goals from the substitute Jess Park then gave the away side a margin of victory that more accurately reflected their domination.
The outcome was United’s fourth win in their first six league games and maintained their undefeated start to the WSL season. They are still two points behind Chelsea, the leaders.
Elisabeth Terland, a Norwegian, unexpectedly headed wide from about two yards out when a goal had appeared likely, and Lisa Naalsund, despite being in space within the area, chipped an effort over the crossbar, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead within eight minutes. During the initial round of Manchester United pressure, Fridolina Rolfö likewise shot into the side netting. In the eleventh minute, they came very close again when Emily Ramsey deflected and saved Malard’s overhead flick.
Hayashi then scored the first WSL goal inside this stadium, poking home after Phallon Tullis-Joyce could only parry Yuka Momiki’s inswinging free-kick and Hayashi was the quickest to react to the loose ball in the box. Marc Skinner’s team was momentarily punished for not seizing their early opportunities.
Malard raced on to Hinata Miyazawa’s through ball and scored on the rebound after Ramsey had saved her first attempt, giving the visitors the lead again after Park was brought on from the bench. When the score reached 2-1, Malard was involved once more, applying pressure to Kitagawa in the area as the defender unintentionally scuffed her attempt at a clearance into her own net.
There was nothing lucky about Park’s second goal or United’s fourth, as she elegantly hit the bottom corner from outside the box in the final moments. Park was having fun racing at the Everton backline and made it 3-1 with a low, deflected drive that sent Ramsey in the wrong direction.