Caroline Weir's sublime 81st-minute chip from distance gave Manchester City a 1-0 win over Manchester United in front of a club-record home crowd of 5,317 at the Academy Stadium. The Scotland international maintained her record of scoring in every home Manchester derby with the stunning effort, moving City to within two points of third-placed United in the Women's Super League.
Weir, a substitute, pressed to rob Katie Zelem and Hayley Ladd before chipping the ball 25 yards beyond goalkeeper Mary Earps into the far corner. “I don’t remember too much about it, a bit of a blur, but I know what I am like when I hit the ball in that area,” Weir said. “I can’t help but try it. Luckily for me it sometimes goes in.”
Manager Gareth Taylor compared the goal to Weir's similar effort in last season's derby. “It was a different feeling today with a full house, record crowd, it just felt amazing. The celebration was great and I arguably think that is a better execution than last season, which was some goal,” he said.
The win was crucial for City's hopes of a top-three finish and Champions League qualification. Five points separated the sides before kick-off, with United in third and City in sixth. United were without influential winger Leah Galton and centre-back Aoife Mannion, and struggled to contain City's Lauren Hemp, who was a constant threat. City pressed high and hard, winning second balls and dominating possession.
United manager Marc Skinner acknowledged his side's shortcomings. “I would agree that they won a few more of those second balls. I mean, they were helped a little bit by the referee in terms of an unfair bias at times, I felt, but that’s not a deflection away from the result,” he said. The defeat leaves United four points behind second-placed Chelsea and six behind leaders Arsenal, making their title challenge harder.
