Manchester United’s bid to achieve the Girls’s Champions League group stage has been dealt a blow following a 1-0 third-round qualifying first-leg defeat in opposition to Brann.
Marc Skinner’s aspect dominated the fixture in Norway just for Ingrid Stenevik to attain the one aim of the sport with 14 minutes remaining.
The defeat means United should win the return rubber at Leigh Sports activities Village in every week’s time by at the very least two targets to ensure they’re within the pot for the league-phase draw.
Defeat added insult to harm for Skinner’s aspect, who had been hit by a lacking bag of trainers en path to the match in Bergen earlier on Thursday.
Plenty of first-team gamers had been left with out footwear for the tie – and regardless of their finest efforts, the membership have nonetheless not been capable of find the lacking boots.
“In the meantime, we have secured new boots of the right make and sizes for all the affected players, and they are ready to participate in tonight’s game as normal,” a membership spokesperson stated forward of the sport, as per Reuters.
Jess Park made her first begin for her new aspect since transferring from Manchester Metropolis on Switch Deadline Day final week
Brann goalkeeper Selma Panengstuen was the thorn in United’s aspect as she pulled off a string of nice saves.
Within the opening interval, Ella Toone noticed two efforts denied by Panengstuen, whereas Elisabeth Terland headed vast on two events.
After the interval, Panengstuen stopped Dominique Janssen after which Melvine Malard with a robust double save.
And within the 76th minute, United fell behind when Stenevik headed dwelling Signe Gaupset’s free-kick.
The guests pushed for an equaliser with the impressed Panengstuen denying Toone once more as Brann held out to report a slender first-leg victory.
United will drop into the second qualifying spherical of the Europa Cup in the event that they fail to progress from the tie.
Skinner’s gamers, who recorded a 4-0 win in opposition to Leicester of their Girls’s Tremendous League opener final weekend, return to motion in opposition to the London Metropolis Lionesses on Sunday.
