Manchester United face an uphill battle to reach the Women’s Champions League semifinals after a narrow 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich at Old Trafford.
United twice leveled the score after falling behind in the first leg of their last-eight tie but were ultimately beaten by an 84th-minute strike from Momoko Tanikawa.
A Maya Le Tissier penalty and Hanna Lundkvist’s header canceled out two breakaway goals from Pernille Harder, but the hosts could not find a third equalizer after Tanikawa’s fine effort.
United welcomed back Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa following her Asian Cup triumph at the weekend, but her international teammate Tanikawa claimed the final plaudits.
Manchester United edge Bayern Munich 3-2 in Women’s Champions League
First Half: Rocky Start and Equalizer
United’s evening started disastrously as former Chelsea forward Pernille Harder raced onto a long ball from Arianna Caruso, sped past Le Tissier, and prodded past Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
United also scrambled the ball away unconvincingly after Franziska Kett had a shot blocked, and nerves were evident when a careless backpass from Millie Turner nearly embarrassed Tullis-Joyce.
The English side eventually settled, with a Jess Park effort blocked before Julia Zigiotti scooped the rebound over.
The leveler arrived after Lea Schüller found space in the area and her cutback was handled by Glodis Viggosdottir. Le Tissier put her early frustration aside by burying the resulting spot kick.
United ramped up the pressure as Melvine Malard drove at keeper Ena Mahmutovic, Schüller blasted wide, but Bayern threatened again through Bernadette Kakounan.
Second Half: Late Drama Decides the Tie
The second half began tamely but exploded on 71 minutes when Harder timed her run perfectly to meet a Tanikawa pass and beat Tullis-Joyce with a low shot.
The goal sparked an immediate response from United, with Lundkvist planting a header firmly past Mahmutovic from a set piece.
However, parity did not last, as Bayern reclaimed the lead when substitute Tanikawa curled in a shot after being fed by Kett.
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