Soccer
Manchester United’s Champions League hopes ended by Bayern Munich
Manchester United exited the Women’s Champions League with a 2-1 quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich, losing 5-3 on aggregate.
Last week’s reverse fixture at Old Trafford saw Bayern claim a 3-2 win, but at the start of Wednesday’s second leg in Munich, Melvine Malard levelled for United.
However, a more confident second half display saw Bayern take charge as Glodis Viggosdottir and Linda Dallmann both struck in the final 10 minutes to book the German side’s place in the semi-finals.
Malard started brightly for United, going close early on when her curling first-time effort was clawed away by Ena Mahmutovic.
The forward earned her reward in the 11th minute when a miscommunication between Mahmutovic and her defence saw them unable to clear Jadye Riviere’s pass and Malard latched onto the ball, hitting a low finish.
Mahmutovic made another solid save to deny Malard and was called into action again to palm away Jess Park’s looping cross that looked destined to dip underneath the crossbar.
Bayern had an opportunity when Vanessa Gilles nodded just past the post from a corner and at the opposite end, Mahmutovic scooped up Fridolina Rolfo’s header.
The hosts started the second half well, with Pernille Harder having a low strike on the turn cleared by Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Georgia Stanway blasted an effort from outside of the area past the post.
Bayern continued to dominate as Harder had a shot blocked and Giulia Gwinn was also denied.
However, their persistence paid off in the 80th minute when Viggosdottir struck, with Tullis-Joyce was unable to keep the defender’s header out despite getting a hand to the ball.
Four minutes later Bayern’s place in the final four was sealed after Malard made a brilliant headed clearance on the goaline, but the ball reached Dallmann, who hit a first-time finish into the roof of the net.
