Depleted Manchester United Dig In After Fridolina Rolfö Strike To Sink Atlético Madrid

Manchester United overcame nan first-half dismissal of their defender Dominique Janssen to adjacent retired a triumph complete Atlético Madrid and support their cleanable commencement to their first Women’s Champions League campaign.

The Sweden guardant Fridolina Rolfö fired successful a close-range volley to people nan decisive extremity successful nan 24th minute. The Dutch centre-back Janssen was past shown a reddish paper earlier nan break aft a VAR reappraisal into her sliding situation connected Gio Garbelini, who was taken disconnected connected a stretcher. Atlético besides vanished nan lucifer pinch 10 players aft their defender Alexia Fernández received a 2nd yellowish paper pinch 15 minutes remaining.

Marc Skinner’s broadside – missing Jess Park because of concussion – had made a affirmative commencement astatine nan Centro Deportivo Alcalá de Henares. Ella Toone sent a curling effort conscionable wide wrong nan opening 20 seconds earlier Rolfö past fired over.

Atlético collapsed connected a counterattack down nan correct successful nan 16th minute, but Fiamma Iannuzzi’s sidefoot changeable was blocked by nan United captain, Maya Le Tissier.

United went successful beforehand successful nan 24th infinitesimal erstwhile Rolfö collapsed successful a volley astatine nan backmost station aft Julia Zigiotti Olme had swung nan shot successful from nan right.

Melvine Malard past prodded a debased changeable conscionable wide aft darting into nan punishment area earlier United – who had beaten Valerenga successful their opening Champions League lucifer – were reduced to 10 players successful nan 37th minute.

Manchester United’s Dominique Janssen receives a consecutive reddish paper for her situation connected Gio Garbelini. Photograph: Kiko Huesca/EPA

Janssen was initially shown a yellowish paper aft clattering into Garbelini conscionable extracurricular nan container connected nan right. However, pinch nan Brazilian down and needing treatment, nan Greek referee Eleni Antoniou was advised to reappraisal nan sliding tackle from down – which she decided had successful truth merited a reddish card. Following a lengthy stoppage, Garbelini was carried disconnected pinch what looked a superior ankle injury.

Atlético – who thrashed St Polten 6-0 successful their opening group game, but past mislaid to their home rivals Barcelona by nan aforesaid people past play – made a beardown commencement to nan 2nd half. Synne Jensen sent a debased changeable wide earlier United’s keeper, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, tipped complete a fierce onslaught from nan Brazilian midfielder Luany.

The hosts were past besides reduced to 10 players erstwhile nan full-back Fernández collected a 2nd yellowish paper successful nan 74th infinitesimal for a foul connected United’s substitute Leah Galton.

Malard collapsed clear precocious connected and drove into nan Atlético punishment container but clipped a debased changeable conscionable wide. However United held connected and now person six points from six and are flying precocious successful nan fledgling 18-team Women’s Champions League table.