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Ella Toone had a night to remember at the Etihad Stadium, scoring a stunning hat-trick to lead Manchester United to a 4-2 victory over rivals Manchester City in the Women's Super League. The emotional evening saw the England international come off to a standing ovation, marking a triumphant return after a challenging few months.
Toone, 25, has faced significant personal struggles, including the loss of her father in September and a two-month recovery from a calf injury. Despite these hardships, she made a dazzling return to action, cementing her place as the star of the Manchester derby.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Toone described the evening as "special." She reflected on her journey, saying, "I've been through a lot. When I got injured, it was a blessing in disguise. Looking back, I needed it—not just physically but mentally. For my family, it's been tough without dad, but I couldn't have done it without my teammates. I'm buzzing."
The lifelong United fan opened the scoring within 14 minutes, latching onto a Hinata Miyazawa flick before dinking the ball over City goalkeeper Khiara Keating. Her heartfelt celebration, gesturing love hearts to the sky, appeared to be a tribute to her late father.
Two errors from Keating allowed Toone to complete her hat-trick, sealing the game for United. Her second goal came from a misplaced pass by Keating, while the third resulted from a blocked clearance moments after City had clawed their way back into the match.
Manchester United manager Marc Skinner praised Toone's resilience and performance, saying, "What's important is that Ella enjoys her football. She's been through a lot, but she has so much more growth ahead. Tonight, she was brilliant, but the whole team deserves credit."
While United fans celebrated Toone's heroics, it was a difficult night for Keating, the 20-year-old City goalkeeper. Her mistakes proved costly, and City boss Gareth Taylor defended her, emphasizing the need for collective responsibility. "Time is a healer. She'll feel sore now, but she's proven before that she can bounce back," Taylor said.
Despite City's struggles, Taylor remained steadfast in his commitment to their style of play, acknowledging the need for better execution in key moments.
For Toone and Manchester United, the derby victory marked a significant boost to their season, while City's title hopes took another hit on a night that showcased both triumph and adversity.
