Manchester United impress with opening-weekend win

Manchester United made a winning start to their Women’s Super League campaign as Marc Skinner’s side defeated West Ham 3-0 in a dominant display at Old Trafford.

Geyse put United in front in the 28th minute before hitting the bar with an overhead kick, and Leah Galton doubled the lead just prior to the break.

England midfielder Grace Clinton – the PFA Young Player of the Year making her United debut after returning from her loan at Tottenham – then headed a third early in the second half.

United’s 2023-24 had seen them make history by securing their first major trophy in the FA Cup, but also finish fifth in the WSL, a year on from being runners-up.

The considerable change to the squad that followed included the likes of Mary Earps, Katie Zelem and Nikita Parris departing, while Elisabeth Terland – scorer of 13 league goals for Brighton last term – was among the summer arrivals, as well as Clinton returning from Spurs.

Boss Skinner had spoken before Saturday’s campaign-opener about the energy he had seen within the group in pre-season.

And United had a pretty vigorous look about them early on against West Ham, with a Galton effort being tipped onto the bar in the sixth minute by Kinga Szemik and Terland’s follow-up header being cleared off the line by Amber Tysiak.

Terland subsequently put a couple of attempts wide before the opener arrived when Maya Le Tissier lofted the ball forward, Camila Saez failed to deal with it and Geyse was able to claim possession in the box and fire past Szemik.

After efforts off-target from Clinton and Lisa Naalsund, Geyse went close to notching a second in the 41st minute as her bicycle kick rattled the bar.

Riko Ueki saw a shot deflect wide at the other end soon after – only for United’s second to then come in first-half stoppage-time with Galton cracking the ball in from the edge of the box.

Eight minutes into the second half Clinton made it 3-0, taking advantage of space in the box to head home from Naalsund’s delivery.

West Ham had a great chance to pull a goal back in the 77th minute when the ball fell to Katrina Gorry in the box, but the Australian could only blast into the stand.

United’s goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce was then called upon to turn a Kristie Mewis ball around the post, before Ella Toone was denied by Szemik late on.