Manchester United prevailed 4-2 in a compelling Sunday evening clash at Etihad Stadium, but City's gifted Matilda, Fowler, laid on their two goals and almost dragged them back into the game late with a brilliant little flick that pulled a great save from American Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
Ultimately, City couldn't recover from two woeful errors by 20-year-old keeper Khiara Keating, trying calamitously to play out from the back, that helped gift United the points that ensured they leapfrog City into third place in the WSL on 24 points.
What a BALL from Mary Fowler 🇦🇺— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) The Aussie puts it on a plate for Vivianne Miedema to claw one back for City in the derby.Match Centre 📲 https://t.co/mkSitFWyR1#BarclaysWSL pic.twitter.com/3V5k326DZCJanuary 19, 2025
Keating's troubles gifted two goals to Ella Toone, enabling United's England striker to complete an opportunist hat-trick.
With City three down after their sloppiness had let in Toone for two first-half goals and one from Leah Galton, 21-year-old Fowler dragged City back in the 40th minute with a terrific right-footed curling cross that picked out Vivianne Miedema, who scored with a stooping header.
In first-half stoppage time, a left-footed inswinging corner from Fowler was headed home by City's new German defender Rebecca Knaak, only for all the good work to be undone straight after the restart when Keating's heavy touch outside the box enabled Toone to finish off her treble.
City's slip meant an Arsenal side featuring their three Matildas Kyra Cooney-Cross, Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord cashed in to go second in the standings with a 5-0 win at home to Crystal Palace.
Foord, on as a second-half sub, was brought down in the box in the 75th minute, enabling Mariona Caldentey to score the first of her two late goals from the spot.
But everyone is chasing champions Chelsea, who crushed the Katrina Gorry-captained West Ham 5-0 to move seven points clear at the top, thanks to goals from Catarina Macario, Erin Cuthbert, Aggie Beever-Jones and Sandy Baltimore, as well as an own goal from Amber Tysiak.
Spurs, featuring Hayley Raso and substitute Charli Grant, moved to sixth with a 1-0 win over Leicester.
