Melvine Malard’s crucial second-half contributions saw Manchester United complete their comeback at Old Trafford, sealing a 2-2 draw in the Manchester Derby. 

Blue skies and a beaming sunshine set the scene over Manchester for a derby day of the highest stakes. United entered the contest knowing a point would suffice in their bid for Champions League football next season, ahead of a testing final WSL matchday against Arsenal at the Emirates.

Meanwhile interim City manager, Nick Cushing faced his most testing task yet of his temporary tenure, with nothing short of a victory against the Red Devils the requirement to keep their European hopes alive until the campaign’s final breath.

The Cityzens sat in fourth place, an overwhelming four points adrift of Manchester United in third, and six behind Arsenal in the silver spot. Champions Chelsea need no mention in such European talk, with the royal blues remaining on their first place perch since just the second gameweek of the season.

The acquisition of the overly familiar title of ‘WSL Champions’ was in fact confirmed mathematically, if not already psychologically, last weekend. Bompastor’s Blues secured a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, following Arsenal’s 5-2 capitulation to Aston Villa’s impressive counter-attacking display. 

Their sixth consecutive title is something the three sides struggling for an arguably futile second place simply cannot fathom. Instead the clubs’ attentions very much remain on finishing as close to the ultimately elusive Chelsea as possible.

However, even a point seemed a difficult feat on 42 minutes as City doubled the deficit, courtesy of conversions from the most unlikely of goalscorers: Laia Aleixandri and Rebecca Knaak. 

The prior finished off a smart move with the instincts of a centre-forward rather than inverted centre-back. It was Nicoli Kerolin who burst down the wing, before cutting it back to Laura Coombs to lay off to Lauren Hemp.

The winger’s full return to WSL action was marked by an insightful assist, as Hemp noticed Aleixandri making a run into the 18 yard box and fired the ball into the Spaniard. 

Her sublime first touch to take the ball well and truly past Hinata Miyazawa was one to behold. Aleixandri was then able to switch the ball from left to right, before bending her effort round Ella Toone and past Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

It was a deserved lead for City, as the visitors had created multiple chances during a strong spell from the twenty fifth minute onwards. 

Kerolin Nicoli created City’s- and the match’s- first promising chance, stabbing the ball toward goal following a terrific pinpoint cross from left-back, Alex Greenwood. 

The England international, who was reverted to the full-back role due to an injury to Laila Ouahabi in the 10th minute, produced an influential display on her first start for City in five months. 

Arguably City’s best centre-back prior to her Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) injury in December, Greenwood’s absence had been significantly felt at times. None more so than in matches of the highest magnitude such as the Champions League quarter-finals.

Unfortunately the chance for Greenwood to claim an assist was denied: albeit by the best goalkeeper in the WSL, and with a trademark reaction save down low to her right. The 28-year-old United goalkeeper holds the most clean sheets (13) in the division this season, with just eleven goals conceded in 20 games.

It was Knaak’s aerial presence which proved another problem for United, as Tullis-Joyce punched a corner-kick delivery away from the German’s vicinity. However the clearance only found Casparij, who struck the ball toward goal on the half-volley. The Dutchwoman’s long range effort flew wide, but for a moment looked to be nestling into the top left corner. 

Knaak did find the net however, and just before half-time. The German centre-back powered a header past the seemingly unstoppable Tullice-Joyce, latching onto a floated corner-kick delivery from Yui Hasegawa.

However, United crucially had the last say of the half as Grace Clinton halved the deficit on 45 minutes. It was substitute Aoife Mannion, on for the injured right-back Jayde Riviere in the 29th minute, who delivered a cross toward the back post unchallenged. 

Aleixandri failed to close Mannion down, with the attacking full-back swinging in her cross toward Clinton to head past goalkeeper Khiara Keating. While some will credit the midfielder for connecting well with the delivery, questions should also be asked of Casparij, and indeed Keating.

The right-back failed to head the ball away, oddly opting to face the same direction as Clinton who headed home for United. Meanwhile Keating’s slow reaction of flailing arms meant no purchase on the ball was made, and it fired over her head and into the net.

As the whistle sounded for the interval it seemed ominous that the- typically and quite aptly- red curtains would open on a second half in which United may just secure the goal they needed…

And indeed they did.

A soon to prove ingenious substitution of striker Melvine Malard for the rather subdued Celin Bizet in the 63rd minute, kick-started a half of which United had the energy and fight to get over the line. 

Malard made an emphatic impact just five minutes into her appearance, slotting past an onrushing Keating just inside the 18 yard box. Keating’s once again futile outstretched arms meant United were not to be denied, with the goalkeeper’s unfavourable positioning allowing Malard to place the ball past Keating’s side. 

It was fellow striker Elisabeth Terland who claimed the assist, rising highest against City’s Gracie Prior from a ball over the top. Terland’s header forward to Malard allowed her to evade Casparij and bear down on goal in front of a vocal Stretford End.

While an uphill battle seemed certain for the visitors, a sending off just minutes later for United’s Mannion meant City were gifted a slightly easier avenue to victory. The full-back cheaply conceded her second bookable offence after an untimely challenge on Kerolin.

Both sides subsequently made substitutions: City offensive-minded, United understandably defensive. 

The hosts also reverted to a 4-4-1 formation, making themselves tight and compact as long-term absentees Aoba Fujino and Laura Blindkilde Brown made their returns to the pitch for City.

Neither could ultimately spark something inside of the Blues nor offer a ball beyond the United defence, who seemed all too comfortable in the closing stages at seeing out the draw. 

City had seemingly ran out of ideas at a crucial time, in what was an apt microcosm for their wider injury-laden circumstances and subsequent previous shortcomings. 

The visitors sank to the floor when the full-time whistle sounded, with those including Keating and Greenwood looking visibly upset.

While Champions League football would not be coming to the Joie next season, United had confirmed their spot on the European stage.

Prior to the Champions League second qualifying round in late August of which Skinner’s side will likely compete, the Red Devils travel to North London in the hopes of usurping second place from the Gunners.

Following Arsenal’s consecutive and comprehensive defeats to Aston Villa and Brighton, there is just a point separating the two sides. United know, however, that only a victory would see them secure second.

This is due to Arsenal holding the extra point, 45 as opposed to 44, and a superior goal difference of 35 to United’s 26.

Therefore United certainly have it all to do in their final showdown of the WSL season… and in their upcoming FA Cup Final.

While Manchester City were knocked out in the semi-finals by none other than Manchester United, the Reds must face treble-chasing Chelsea on May 18. 

Revenge could be sweet for the Red Devils if they prove triumphant, as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the 2022/23 FA Cup Final. 

Meanwhile, Cushing’s Blues have both a crucial and futile final matchday to contemplate. 

City are set to finish fourth in the division, as Brighton are 12 points adrift of the beleaguered sky blue side. However, their upcoming fixture against already-relegated Crystal Palace is surely the perfect opportunity to conclude their turbulent campaign on a positive note.

Strong performances from those who represent City’s future, such as Kerolin, Hemp and Jess Park, could even evoke excitement in the fans for the following season. An unprecedented victory for the Eagles would, on the other hand, be the final blow the Blues will desperately wish to evade.