Jess Park emulates Phil Foden as Manchester City secure victory over Manchester United, bolstering their Women’s Super League title prospects.

Jess Park netted two goals as Manchester City claimed a 3-1 victory over Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.

If Jess Park’s breakout season at Manchester City is to be defined, it was undoubtedly against Manchester United at the Etihad where she truly shone.

With the unfortunate injury to big-money summer signing Jill Roord in January, concerns arose that Manchester City’s title aspirations might falter. However, Park, who initially joined City as a winger in 2017, has embraced her role in the no. 10 position and has been instrumental in guiding Gareth Taylor’s team to significant victories over the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, and now United.

For Park, a lifelong City supporter aspiring to follow in the footsteps of Sergio Aguero, the moment couldn’t have been sweeter: scoring a brace against arch-rivals to momentarily propel her club to the top of the Women’s Super League (WSL) table. Phil Foden, a fellow City fan, achieved a similar feat for the men’s team against United earlier in March, winning at the Etihad with an identical scoreline – now it was Park’s turn.

It’s worth recalling that just a few months ago, United held a two-point advantage over their city rivals and were aiming to maintain their unbeaten league start to establish themselves in the title race. However, that encounter, which concluded with the away side celebrating at Old Trafford, may have marked a turning point, highlighting the growing gap in quality between the two teams.

Heading into the showdown at the Etihad, the dynamics had shifted significantly, with City now holding the advantage and United hoping to disrupt their rivals’ title aspirations. While a victory at their neighbors’ turf wouldn’t erase the frustrations of an underwhelming season for United, it could potentially thwart City’s bid for their first WSL title since 2016.

The stakes were high, and perhaps it was this pressure that contributed to City’s slow start on Saturday afternoon, with United creating the better opportunities early on. Despite this, City’s threat was ever-present, and Park’s strike from distance in the 37th minute gave them the lead, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

While there may have been some contention regarding the legality of the goal due to a potential offside in the build-up, the absence of VAR meant the goal stood, effectively dampening United’s hopes of staging a comeback.