Man Utd Women 1-0 Liverpool: Zigiotti Olme chip and Tullis-Joyce saves seal back-to-back wins
Man Utd Women 1-0 Liverpool: Julia Zigiotti Olme scored early and Phallon Tullis-Joyce made eight saves as United won again in the WSL.
Man Utd Women 1-0 Liverpool: Julia Zigiotti Olme’s sixth-minute chip and a goalkeeping masterclass from Phallon Tullis-Joyce gave Eva Olid’s side back-to-back WSL wins at Leigh.
Main photo: James Boyes / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Liverpool had more shots and more of them on target, but they could not find a way past United’s American keeper, who made eight saves. The result lifts United level with Gareth Taylor’s side on seven points going into the international break.
Zigiotti Olme pounces early
The decisive moment came inside six minutes. Khiara Keating’s clearance fell short, Zigiotti Olme read it, and the Swedish midfielder lifted a perfectly weighted chip over the stranded keeper from around 20 yards.
United almost doubled the lead before the break. Jess Park picked the ball up deep in her own half, drove the length of the pitch and smashed a shot against the crossbar.
Tullis-Joyce stands tall for Man Utd Women
Liverpool’s best spell brought their best chances. Beata Olsson’s free-kick was tipped onto the post, and when the rebound came back to her Tullis-Joyce produced a brilliant double save. She was needed again late on, standing up to deny Liverpool in a one-on-one.
Taylor threw on Marie-Therese Höbinger and Mao Itamura, who made her Liverpool debut, as the visitors chased an equaliser. Grace Fisk was Liverpool’s standout performer at the back. The game was niggly at times, with four bookings shared equally.
| Stat | Man Utd | Liverpool |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 (Zigiotti Olme 6’) | 0 |
| Possession | 51% | 49% |
| Shots | 9 | 15 |
| Shots on target | 3 | 8 |
| Goalkeeper saves | 8 | 2 |
| Corners | 5 | 5 |
| Yellow cards | 2 (Medina, Awujo) | 2 (Ramos, MacLean) |
Olid’s turnaround gathers pace
It is a welcome run for Olid. United lost early in the season, including a 5-0 thrashing by Chelsea, but they have now taken seven points from their last three games.
Liverpool are still enjoying their best start to a season in almost a decade. They return after the break with a trip to Aston Villa on Sunday 18 October.
At the top, Manchester City remain perfect after four games, as seen when Greenwood’s free-kick beat Charlton. The break itself is a sore point for some clubs, with European Leagues taking its complaint about the women’s international calendar to the EU. Off the pitch, Liverpool have also been reshaping their football operation since Julian Ward returned as sporting director.
For the men’s side of the club, our sister site DGBN has covered Bruno Fernandes’ hat-trick in Man Utd’s comeback against Ipswich.
