Ella Toone scored a hat-trick on her return to WSL action as Manchester United Women punished sloppy errors from Manchester City Women by winning 4-2 in a pulsating Manchester derby.
Toone missed games in November and December with a calf injury, and continued her scoring return to form with a remarkable hat-trick at the Etihad Stadium.
“I’ve been through a lot, and when I got injured, it was a blessing in disguise,” Toone told Sky Sports after the game.
“Looking back now, I needed it, not just physically but mentally as well. I’ve used my time wisely to get back fitter and stronger, but more importantly, look after myself.
“I was letting the girls know – ‘girls, I’ve never scored in a Manchester derby, never scored against City’, and for a girl who supports Manchester United, I know what these derbies mean. I want to come into every game making something happen on the pitch and putting in a shift for the girls.
“But today, I wanted a goal and managed to get three, so a special day for me and I couldn’t have done it without the players and staff.”
Man Utd were sharper from the start and Toone made it count with her 14th-minute opener. Elisabeth Terland miscued her strike, but the England midfielder was lurking to tuck home. Leah Galton (21) then doubled the lead soon after, turning home from close range as Man City failed to clear a corner.
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Manchester City failed to clear from a corner and Leah Galton slammed home from two-yards out
Gareth Taylor’s side continued to struggle, with a poorly placed pass out from the back – coming mere seconds after another had seen Terland almost score – allowed Toone to net her second (36). She latched on to a loose pass before simply tapping home past England team-mate Khiara Keating.
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Ella Toone scored her second goal of the game after some sloppy play from Manchester City
But it looked like the recovery was on at the end of the first half as Man City struck twice to bring the scoreline back to 3-2. Vivianne Miedema (40) – herself returning to league action from injury – nodded home from a Mary Fowler cross, before Rebecca Knaak (45+3) scored her first WSL goal since joining the club a few weeks ago.
