Bayern Munich came from behind to win 2-1 at the Allianz Arena, ending Manchester United’s Women’s Champions League dreams after advancing from the quarter-finals with a 5-3 aggregate victory.
Marc Skinner’s side took a deserved lead on the night and leveled the score after losing 3-2 at home last week, but Bayern’s quality and set-piece prowess overwhelmed them in the second period.
In the 80th minute, Grodis Vygosdóttir topped Carolyn Simon’s corner to cancel out Melvin Mallard’s lead, and four minutes later Linda Dalman sealed the result with a powerful volley.
Manchester United’s Giulia Gigiotti Olme expresses disappointment after defeat
Bayern, unbeaten at home for 13 months, kept the visitors inside their defensive third for much of the second half, but needed two set-pieces to overcome a tenacious Man Utd side. Coach Skinner will be especially disappointed that his team played 10 corners before succumbing to a killer 11th.
“I think our nickname is Set Piece FC,” Bayern defender Vanessa Gil joked after the match.
Grodis Vygosdóttir scores Bayern’s first goal against Man United
The Frauen Bundesliga team has reached the semi-final stage for the first time in five years and will face the winner of Barcelona vs. Real Madrid on Thursday. Barça are leading 6-2 after the first leg.
A step too far for Manchester United
Analysis by Laura Hunter of Sky Sports:
It’s easy to pinpoint set-piece marking, or lack thereof, as the reason Manchester United lost in Munich, but there was much more nuance to this game than those two moments. The first half was a great away performance. Mallard scored one goal but could have scored three. Overall, Bayern were unable to find the pace of play.
Dalman competes for the ball with Fridrina Rolfo.
Fridrina Rolfo and Hinata Miyazawa commanded the middle third, bouncing back passes and connecting attacks, while Maya Le Tissier led a disciplined backline. All units worked in unison and made Bayern uneasy. We lacked the rhythm from the first leg.
Perhaps the most defining feature of Man United’s decline was their inability to maintain that kind of intensity for 90 minutes. After the break, the team fell by a yard and allowed five shots on goal to Fallon Tallis-Joyce. The Germans’ second-half advantage is most evident by the number of touches inside the opponent’s box: Bayern 33-1 Manchester United.
It’s too much for this occasion, but Manchester United should accept the fact that they have finally been deemed worthy of this elite stage.
Important differences in freshness
Manchester United manager Mark Skinner to UEFA:
“To be honest, it was unbelievable, especially the first half. Then the tiredness and fatigue started to set in.
“Bayern were able to rest some players at the weekend and it showed in the second half. I think in the end the freshness was the decisive difference.”
“I know we have eight guys at the moment, but we didn’t play well enough in the second half. If we had them, I honestly think we could have won. I think we played that well in the first half.”
Le Tissier ‘furious’ over failed set-piece
Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier comments on Disney+:
“To be fair I’m angry. We had two set pieces and it seems like every game we lose on a set piece, just like in the FA Cup. It’s something we need to work on and it’s frustrating.”
“The performance we had, especially in the first half, is something we can build on and be proud of.
“After the first leg we gave ourselves a difficult task but we fully believed we could win the game. Everyone is disappointed because we were confident of winning.”
“I don’t want to use that as an excuse. Bayern had more energy in the second half, but we couldn’t quite match it. I don’t know why.”
