Manchester United moved a step closer to reaching the Women’s Champions League as they edged past Hammarby in Stockholm in a nervy second qualifying round tie.
Elisabeth Terland’s fourth goal in two games was enough to see the English side progress, as she continued her good form after scoring a hat-trick in their previous qualifying fixture on Wednesday, a 4-0 win over PSV. Saturday’s tie was a far less one-sided affair, though, as Hammarby provided a tricky test for United.
Terland found the breakthrough in the 61st minute after Celin Bizet’s right-ring cross was cleverly flicked back across the penalty area by Melvine Malard to Terland, who squeezed the ball into the net at the near post. The cross and then the assist from Malard were two much-needed moments of quality in a game that had been closely fought and lacking in decisiveness in either penalty area.
As a result of the goal Marc Skinner’s side have beaten the hosts of this mini-tournament of four teams – which had the rather long-winded name of second qualifying round league path group one – played at the Swedish side’s 3Arena venue. Hammarby were backed by more than 5,000 noisy supporters but Skinner’s team were undeterred by that disadvantage and stayed patient as they searched for their winner.
It was not the most inspiring of performances from United and they will need to improve if they are to progress through the third qualifying round and join Chelsea and the defending champions, Arsenal, in the new league phase.
Elisabeth Terland and Celin Bizet celebrate the decisive goal. Photograph: Michael Campanella/Getty Images
United should have opened the scoring earlier. In the third minute, Ella Toone had cut the ball back into Terland’s path inside the area but her shot was saved. Anna Sandberg also went close 15 minutes later when she rifled a left-footed strike just over the bar. Five minutes into the second half, Bizet broke through but could not beat the goalkeeper and Malard rushed a half-volleyed effort on the rebound.
Quick Guide
Manchester United 1-0 Hammarby teams and scorers
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Manchester United Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Janssen, Sandberg; Bizet, Zigiotti Olme, Miyazawa, Toone; Terland (Naalsund 90+4), Malard. Subs not used Rendell, Middleton-Patel, Turner, Rabjohn, Barry, Anderson, Hill. Booked Toone, Riviere, Bizet.
Hammarby Loeck; Carlsson, Boye Sorensen, Reidy (Lennartsson 76); Holmberg, Joramo, Miyagawa (Koivisto 56), Blakstad; Wangerheim, Tandberg (Sprung 83), Josendal (Hasund 83). Subs not used Edrud, Jurander, Bragstad, Sjodahl, Persson, Peterson, Maiquez, Myren. Booked Blakstad, Miyagawa, Tandberg.
Referee Michaela Pachtova (Cz). Attendance 5,546.
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However, Hammarby had come closest to scoring in the first half when, 28 minutes in, Sofia Reidy struck the bar from inside the area after the ball fell kindly to her.
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Once they had got their noses in front, United managed the game well and calmly saw out the victory. They will learn their third qualifying round opponents in Sunday’s draw, possibly a big name such as Real Madrid or Roma.
United will be in action again next Sunday, when they begin their Women’s Super League campaign at home to managerless Leicester.
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