A mountain then for United to climb but boy did they every climb it as well. Although they left it very late.
The game had ticked into the 87th minute when United pulled a goal back. USA World Cup winner Morgan Gautrat very heavily involved with the assist.
Gautrat’s first attempted cross into the middle from the left was cleared but only came back to her just inside the box. This time the American did really well to create space for herself to fizz a low cross into a really dangerous area.
Substitute Emily Murphy stepped over it and there was fellow substitute Finnish International Oona Sevenius to hit a sweet left foot first time effort past the diving Shae Yanez from 8-yards out to register her first goal for Wor Lasses.
Now the charge was on. The referee indicated a MINIMUM of six minutes to play. The game actually ticked into the 98th minute with Mannion winning a corner off Emily Watson that Gautrat ran across to take.
Gautrat striking the ball really well with the outside of her right foot and it flew past everyone to go directly into the net to bring United dramatically level as the impressive USA star added her first goal for the Club to back up her earlier assist.
And there was till time for Gautrat to almost become a bigger hero. Mannion’s clever throw into the box saw Murphy allow the ball to go past her before cutting a great pass back to Gautrat who from six yards out struck it goal wards.
Yanez though somehow made a remarkable point-blank reaction save on her line grabbing the loose ball as well to make sure that Palace didn’t drop all three points at the death.
Had Gautrat’s effort gone in it would perhaps have been harsh on Palace but I’m sure United would have taken it gladly. As it was, the referee’s final whistle ended a dramatic encounter at 2 – 2, giving United a point.
A point that means they have five from five games and in a tightly contested WSL 2 are sitting 8th six places and five points behind Birmingham City, who are currently in the coveted second automatic promotion place.
Charlton Athletic lead the division with 13 points from their 5 games and remember United have already played and lost to the two teams currently in control of the places all are aiming for.
For United it’s time to dust themselves down and prepare for the visit of Bristol City to The GIS this coming Sunday where Wor Lasses will be looking to build on a point gained away and hopefully grab their first home win of the season.
