The Guardian:Manchester United 3-1 Everton: Women’s Super League – as it happened

Peep peep! United’s big day went to plan in the end. They were given a nasty surprise when Claire Emslie cracked Everton into an early lead, but two brilliant headers from Alessia Russo and a penalty from Katie Zelem gave them a deserved victory. They stay third in the table, three points ahead of Manchester City, whose game against Birmingham was postponed.

It was a good game and a great occasion, the first time United have played in front of supporters at Old Trafford. We haven’t heard an official attendance yet but it looked in excess of 20,000.

© Provided by The Guardian Marc Skinner, Manager of Manchester United applauds his fans after the Barclays FA Women’s Super League match between Manchester United and Everton at the Old Trafford. Photograph: Lexy Ilsley/PPAUK/REX/Shutterstock

The player of the match is Alessia Russo

“What a day. It’s been really special to play here in front of our friends and family – getting three points was the main thing and the two headers are a bonus. Everton pose a threat but we had to be resilient and in the end we got the result.”

90+5 min The substitute Bruun tries to finish the game in style with an up and under from 45 yards. It’s pushed away by the diving MacIver, though I think it would have swirled wide anyway.

90 min Five minutes of added time.

89 min Two more changes for United. Vilde Boe Risa and Signe Bruun come on for Ella Toone and the superb Alessia Russo, who has also just been announced as the player of the match.

That’ll do! Alessia Russo gets her second and United are heading for victory. Zelem stood up a corner from the right towards Russo, who looped another superb header over both MacIver and Graham on the line.

© Provided by The Guardian Alessia Russo of Manchester United celebrates scoring the 3rd goal . Photograph: Paul Currie/REX/Shutterstock

87 min George makes a desperate tackle on Hanson in the area. She did get the ball, in fairaness, and there were no appeals for a penalty.

87 min Everton have contributed plenty to a really good game, but there’s no doubt that United deserve to win.

86 min Goal difference could be decisive in the race for a Champions League place, and United are still charging round in pursuit of a fourth.

83 min Both teams are starting to tire. Indeed United are making another change – the excellent Jackie Groenen off is replaced by Jade Moore.

79 min The Unitd keeper Mary Earps is receiving treatment. It looks like a problem with her right foot, though she’s going to continue. She’s also just delivered a ferocious and mildly comical brollocking to one of the United defenders, I’m not sure why.

77 min These are dangerous times for United, with Everton looking more menacing than at any time since the first 15 minutes.

75 min Toone, put through on goal by Hanson, is wrongly flagged offside. It was a tight decision this time, and I’m not sure it mattered anyway – Toone went round MacIver but overran the ball and was dispossessed by George.

73 min Everton are starting to threaten again. Bennison finds the goalscorer Emslie, who wriggles away from Blundell on the right of the area and curls not far wide of the far post.

72 min And now a change for United: Martha Thomas is replaced by Kirsty Hanson.

71 min Thomas twists Pattinson inside out and curls a deep cross that just evades the leaping Galton at the far post.

70 min Another change for Everton: Kenza Dali is replaced by Hanna Bennison.

70 min After good play from Galli, Graham curls wide from 25 yards.

70 min United have been much the better team but they will be nervous while the score remains 2-1. If they don’t win today, a Champions League place will be a long way off.

67 min Or not: Toni Duggan is replaced by Simone Magill.

62 min: Thomas has a goal disallowed! And I’m sad to say it’s a shocking decision. Zelem’s cross from the left is headed across the area by Galton and stabbed towards goal by Thorisdottir. MacIver makes an unbelievable reaction save, Thomas puts the loose ball into the net – and then the flag goes up for an unspecified offside. It can only be against Thorisdottir, though replays show she was well onside.

64 min Duggan is down injured, but it looks like she’ll be okay to continue.

61 min Turner makes a vital last-ditch challenge on Galton, who was charging onto an imaginative through pass from Toone (I think).

The captain Katie Zelem smashes the penalty high into the net! MacIver went the wrong way, to her right.

© Provided by The Guardian Katie Zelem celebrates scoring from the spot. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters

58 min A deft layoff from Duggan finds George, who blasts over from 20 yards with her weaker right foot.

57 min United have lost the lead quite a few times this season – mostly away from home, it’s true, but they’ll still be conscious of that if it’s still 2-1 going into the final quarter.

50 min: Great chance for United! Thomas beats Pattinson on the right with a glorious Cruyff turn. Then she looks up and curls a deep cross to the unmarked Toone, who pings a half-volley over the bar from close range. United should be ahead.

55 min Graham did really well inititally to block a cutback from Batlle. But then Thomas appeared on the blind side to poke the loose ball away and Graham brought her down.

53 min: Penalty to United! Thomas goes over after a lunge from Graham, who pleads that she got the ball. She didn’t.

52 min Everton have switched to a 4-2-3-1 by the way: Graham left, Emslie right and Dali playing behind Duggan.

48 min George is booked for flattening Galton.

46 min A fast start to the second half from United. Galton surges infield and stabs a pass through to Russo, whose dangerous low cross is well claimed by MacIver.

46 min Peep peep! United begin the second half. Everton have made a change, with Lucy Graham replacing Nathalie Bjorn. That probably means a switch to a back four.

Peep peep! The big game at Old Trafford has been illuminated by two fine goals. Claire Emslie drove Everton into an early lead; Alessia Russo headed a deserved equaliser for United. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.

© Provided by The Guardian Some celebration: Goal celebrations for Alessia Russo. Photograph: Lexy Ilsley/PPAUK/REX/Shutterstock

43 min: Just wide from Christiansen! That was a terrific break from Everton. The impressive Dali drove a long pass out to Emslie, whose early low cross found Duggan in the area. She turned and teed up Christiansen, whose rising drive from the edge of the area flew just wide

43 min Blundell’s long-range shot is blocked by Bjorn.

42 min Thomas’s cross is cleared well by George, lunging towards her own goal. It’s all United at the moment.

It’s been coming, and now United are level through the inevitable Alessia Russo. Batlle played a slick one-two with Groenen on the right and clipped an excellent cross to the far post. Russo, who had to backpedal to meet the ball, strained her neck muscles to loop a superb header over MacIver and into the net.

© Provided by The Guardian Goal: Alessia Russo scores . Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters© Provided by The Guardian And goes wild. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

39 min It took United a while to get going but they have been much the better team in the second half of the first half.

37 min That’s Russo’s eighth league goal of the season. Only Sam Kerr and Vivianne Miedema have scored more.

36 min That’s the spirit.

33 min Dali beats two players on the right, moves into the area but then drives a cross too close to Ladd. That was a chance for Everton.

21 min Zelem takes a short corner to Blundell, whose flat cross is volleyed towards goal by Thomas. MacIver dives to her left to save and Galton’s follow-up is well blocked.

30 min Russo charges into the area and is stopped by a combination of Christiansen and George.

28 min The Everton defence looks stretched for the first time. United have been much better in the last five minutes or so.

Everton take the lead with their first attack! Dali turns in the centre circle and slips a lovely pass through to Emslie on the right. She charges into the area, away from Blundell, and rifles a low shot into the far corner. What a clinical finish!

© Provided by The Guardian Back of the net: : Claire Emslie of Everton scores . Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images© Provided by The Guardian And celebrates. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

26 min A typically dangerous inswinging corner from Zelem is headed away bravely by Finnigan. Galton clips the ball back into the area towards Thomas, who just can’t reach it on the stretch.

25 min United have had 69 per cent of the possession and six shots to Everton’s one. All of which is worth the square root of bugger all when you are 1-0 down. But they are having their best spell of the game.

23 min Zelem plays a good pass through to Galton on the edge of the area. She’s challenged well by Turner but gets to her feet and slides a neat pass to Toone on the left side of the area. Her low cross rolls along the six-yard box with no United player able to finish.

19 min Kenza Dali turns stylishly in the centre circle and finds Pattinson on the left. Nothing comes of it but it’s another sign of Everton’s confidence on the counter-attack. Moments later, Emslie’s long-range shot is saved by Earps. It was going wide anyway.

18 min That’s the spirit.

17 min Earps needs treatment after a collision with George, which allows Marc Skinner to call the outfield players over to talk tactics. It’s not going to plan for United.

14 min Toone runs onto a long, straight pass from Thorisdottir, drags her studs over the ball and has a shot blocked. Everton break and Thorisdottir is booked for pulling back Duggan, who had beaten her with a majestic flick.

12 min For all United’s possession and intent, Everton look pretty comfortable at the moment.

10 min Russo nicks the ball off George and hits a decent drive from 20 yards that is too close to MacIver.

9 min Here’s Claire Emslie’s goal. Cracking celebration too.

7 min United look affronted by the goal and are snapping the ball around with intent.

3 min An early free-kick to United, just past the centre circle. Zelem’s delivery is too straight and runs through to MacIver.

A reminder of the teams

Manchester United (possible 4-2-3-1) Earps; Batlle, Thorisdottir, Ladd, Blundell; Zelem, Groenen; Thomas, Toone, Galton; Russo.

Substitutes: Baggaley, Harris, Moore, Boe Risa, Bruun, Hanson, Jones.

Everton (possible 3-4-2-1) MacIver; Bjorn, Finnigan, George; Turner, Christiansen, Galli, Pattinson; Emslie, Dali; Duggan.

Substitutes: Brosnan, Clinton, Weir, Bennison, Maier, Magill, Graham, Gauvin.

1 min Peep peep! After the players take the knee, Everton kick off from right to left.

The players emerge to rapturous applause, and the familiar sound of the Stone Roses. It’s a beautiful spring day in Manchester.

And here’s the Everton manager Chris Roberts

“We’ve had four games in a short space of time so it’s been important to utilise our squad. We have to try to treat it like a normal WSL game. The fans will bring an atmosphere that will hopefully be enjoyable – if we play well.”

Marc Skinner’s pre-match thoughts

“Honestly, it means the world. I’m happy that our club can help drive women’s football forward, and today’s a really great event. It’s a massive, massive transformation and something I’m so happy to be part of.

“We aspire to finishing higher than third, to be honest, but we know how competitive this league is. It’s a great time to be involved in women’s football in England. For us it’s all about trying to win every game between now and the end of the season, though we know how difficult that is.”

Two changes for United from that draw at West Ham. Maria Thorisdottir and Hayley Ladd return from injury in place of Diane Caldwell and Vilde Boa Risa.

Everton, who were hammered 4-0 by Manchester City on Sunday (FA Cup) and Wednesday (WSL), make four changes from the league game. Toni Duggan, Kenza Dali, Izzy Christiansen and Poppy Pattinson come in for Leonie Maier, Lucy Graham, Hanna Bennison and Simone Magill.

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Look at their faces! Just look at their faces!

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Manchester United v Everton in the WSL. It’s a big game and an even bigger occasion – the first time Man Utd Women have played in front of fans at Old Trafford.

Sure, Old Trafford is a bit decrepit, but it’s still Old Bloody Goddamn Trafford. United played here last March, when they beat West Ham 2-0, but there were no fans that day because of Covid restrictions. A crowd of up to 20,000 is expected today. “I want to put on a performance that shows everybody we can, in the future, fill this stadium for our women’s team,” said their manager Marc Skinner. And they need to, because it’s a must-win game for United.

The frustrating draw at West Ham 11 days ago means they are hanging on a Champions League place by their fingertips. With five games to go they are only ahead of a rampant Manchester City on goal difference, and they have a tougher run-in (specifically: Chelsea away on the final day). They should expect to beat Everton, who are ninth after a desperately disappointing season.

There is a bigger picture, though, and this game is about more than three points. It’s another landmark in one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, and yes you are reading the Guardian but it’s still true. Today, for the first time in a while, Old Trafford really will be a theatre of dreams

Kick off 12.30pm.