The Manchester United women’s team secured their second league victory of the Barclays Women’s Super League season on Saturday, defeating Liverpool 1–0 at Progress with Unity Stadium in Leigh, as Reinas del balón reported.
Julia Zigiotti Olme scored the decisive goal in the sixth minute, capitalizing on defensive pressure to lift the ball over Liverpool goalkeeper Khiara Keating. The clean sheet marked United’s first defensive shutout of the campaign under manager Eva Olid, who kept the same starting lineup that defeated West Ham the previous weekend.
Zigiotti Puts Manchester United Ahead
Manchester United began the match with high intensity, penning Liverpool deep in their own half from the opening whistle. The relentless start paid off when forward Elisabeth Terland pressured Keating into an errant clearance.
The loose ball fell directly to Zigiotti Olme roughly 20 yards from goal. Taking a couple of touches, the Swedish midfielder lofted her shot over a stranded Keating to put the hosts ahead.
The fixture marked Manchester United’s 250th official match since the club’s refoundation in 2018. Despite the early breakthrough, Liverpool gradually worked their way back into the contest.
Tullis-Joyce Makes Double Save to Deny Liverpool
Liverpool nearly equalized midway through the first half when United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce produced a remarkable double save. She first blocked an effort from Cornelia Kapocs before leaping to bat away a follow-up header from Beata Olsson.
United pushed for a second goal before halftime. Around the half-hour mark, penalty appeals were waved away by referee Phoebe Cross after a cross from Jess Park struck Kapocs on the arm.
Park nearly found the net moments later, cutting in from the right flank and unleashing a left-footed strike from 20 yards that rattled the crossbar. Andrea Medina pounced on the rebound, but Keating reacted quickly to turn her shot behind for a corner.
Tullis-Joyce remained busy at the other end, denying Olsson at her near post shortly before the interval. Keating also stopped Medina in a one-on-one situation during first-half stoppage time to keep the deficit at a single goal.
United Defense Thwarts Late Liverpool Attacks
Medina tested Keating immediately after the restart, but the Liverpool defense cleared the danger. Medina was subsequently substituted after taking a knock in the first half, making way for Mared Griffiths, who made her home WSL debut.
As the match wore on, United’s defense repeatedly thwarted Liverpool’s attacks. Hanna Lundkvist intervened inside her six-yard box on the hour mark to clear a dangerous cross, and Jenna Clark later saw a header blocked by the backline.
Liverpool pressed heavily during the final 20 minutes in search of an equalizer. Alice Bergström fired over the crossbar from a promising position, while Tullis-Joyce collected multiple crosses directed toward Olsson and saved a late shot from substitute Marie Höbinger.
United managed to relieve the pressure late in the game, nearly doubling their lead when Zigiotti played a through ball to Terland, whose first-time shot forced Keating into a sharp diving save.
Match Details
Referee Phoebe Cross issued yellow cards to Liverpool’s Gemma Ramos (42′) and Niamh MacLean (54′), alongside United’s Andrea Medina (52′) and Simi Awujo (86′) in front of an announced attendance of 3,416 spectators.
Manchester United XI: Tullis-Joyce (GK), Lundkvist, Le Tissier (C), Janssen, Sandberg, Zigiotti Olme, Miyazawa, Park, Toone (Awujo 67′), Medina (Griffiths 52′), Terland (Schüller 81′). Manager: Eva Olid.
Liverpool XI: Keating (GK), Kerr, Clark, Fisk (C), Bernabé, Nagano, Bergström (Enderby 84′), MacLean (Höbinger 58′), Ramos (Itamura 77′), Kapocs, Olsson. Manager: Gareth Taylor.
Julia Zigiotti Olme received the Player of the Match award for her match-winning performance.
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