By Georgia Garnett at VBS Community Stadium
CRYSTAL Palace Women’s final game of 2024 ended on a frustrating note as they lost 1-0 to Manchester United in WSL action last Sunday afternoon.
Grace Clinton scored the game’s only goal, the England international’s fourth of the WSL season.
Nearing the halfway point of the campaign, Crystal Palace have lost ground to Leicester, West Ham and Everton in the battle to remain in the top flight of women’s football.
Elizabeth Terland started a strong first half for the visitors, launching a strike at goal that was blocked four minutes in.
United’s Gabby George sent two attempts wide, before Shae Yanez dined United captain Maya Le Tissier on sixteen minutes.
Leah Galton and Terland both had effort attempts in the opening 30 minutes, but neither were able to give United the lead.
In the 37th minute, Palace’s Katie Stengel hit the post before she was forced off with an injury.
Clinton netted the game’s only goal in the fifth minute of first-half added-time with a shot to the bottom-right corner after capitalising on defensive errors from Palace.
Yanez prevented Geyse Da Silva Ferreira from doubling United’s lead early in the second half.
MyCato had a chance to level for the Eagles in the 64th minute but her shot was blocked.
United substitute Celin Bizet shot wide before Ashleigh Weerden had the best attempt of the second half for Palace as she forced a save from Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
Dominique Janssen threatened twice in the final fifteen minutes but could not add to United’s lead.
The Eagles played pressed in the game’s final moments, though no player was quite able to create a chance for an equaliser.
Palace have five points from ten games and are last of twelve sides in the table ahead of the month-long winter break.
Palace return to WSL action at Arsenal on January 19.
