Manchester United Women did the real-life equivalent of firing up FIFA and taking frustrations out on a virtual opponent on Wednesday. The Reds battered Sheffield United 10-1 to open League Cup play at Leigh Sports Village, the first competitive win for United under manager Eva Olid.
The win over Sheffield United saw six Reds find their way onto the scoresheet on Wednesday. Maya Le Tissier opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 14th minute, and in doing so opened the floodgates. More goals
soon followed from debutant Rebeca Bernal, Mared Griffiths, Lea Schuller and Ella Toone to make it a 5-0 scoreline by the halftime break. The scoring didn’t stop there as Schuller and Bernal added two more shortly after the restart, followed by Jess Simpson, and finally two goals to complete a hat-trick for Griffiths.
The Blades would get a consolation goal from Amy Andrews in the 73rd minute, but that barely made a dent as United had nine on the board by then.
There was an obvious talent disparity in this one, but the ability to find the net and play some freeflowing football after a difficult opening stretch of the season would have done the team some good. The Reds earned just one point through three Women’s Super League matches, which included a trip to the Emirates and a thrashing at the hands of Chelsea.
United are back in WSL action at the weekend against West Ham United, and will be hungry to turn the midweek result into the start of a winning run to make up lost ground in the WSL table.
