Terland ends City’s perfect run with a derby sucker punch
Manchester City had won six from six and were 90 seconds from seven. Then Elisabeth Terland ended their 100% start to the WSL season, and United had earned their point.
For most of the night, the champions’ big moment looked set to be the story. Khadija Shaw, heckled by the home fans and kept quiet by Maya Le Tissier in the first half, broke the deadlock with a little over 20 minutes to go. It was her 100th WSL appearance, and she now has 91 goals in those games, more than anyone has managed in their first 100. She had switched her attention to Dominique Janssen after the break, backed into her, turned and fired through her legs into the bottom corner.
United did not wobble. They had spent long spells pushing City back, and Jess Park’s dipping effort smacked the crossbar on the hour. The equaliser had a cruel twist. Shaw’s tame clearance from a deep Le Tissier cross dropped to Terland, who finished with a calm touch. The scorer of the night’s first goal had set up the second.
The stats tell a neat story. City had the volume, with 17 shots to 11, 27 touches in the United box to 10 and an xG of 1.61 to 1.01. United had the sting, with an xG on target of 1.91 to 0.87 and 68% of the aerial duels. Possession was almost dead level, which suits a derby.
Terland felt United had the chances to win it and called the performance a standard to build on. Andree Jeglertz called it a fantastic, intense game, but admitted City were disappointed to concede so late.
Chelsea and City are both on 19 points, with Chelsea top on goal difference after beating Palace 3-1. London City sit on 16 and United on 11. City’s defence is the worry. By my count they have conceded nine in seven league games, having shipped only 19 across last season’s title-winning campaign. United, meanwhile, have clawed their way back from a rocky start. They lost to London City and Chelsea, then won three on the bounce before this.
City had owned this fixture lately. A 2-2 draw in May 2025 was followed by a 3-0 win at the Etihad in November and a 3-0 win at Old Trafford in March. Terland’s goal was United’s first against City in the league since that draw.
City’s road gets steeper. London City away on 1 November comes first, then West Ham at home, then the trip to Chelsea on 14 November, which could decide who leads the title race. United’s schedule is gentler: Everton away on 31 October, then Aston Villa, Crystal Palace at home and Birmingham away. The return derby is on 14 February.
