When Pernille Harder marked her swansong season at Chelsea with the winning goal against Manchester United in the 2023 FA Cup final, those in red may have hoped they had seen the last of the Danish striker.
But, as it turns out, sometimes old foes can come back to haunt you. Harder’s brace – and a third from Momoko Tanikawa in the 84th minute – has given United an almighty task to take with them to the Allianz Arena next week.
Until Tanikawa restored the perennial German champions’ lead for a third time late on, United were on the verge of heading home with confidence after delivering a gritty, resolute performance.
Playing for the first time in a Women’s Champions League knockout game, it was a shame that UEFA rules stipulated they must play their knockout matches at Old Trafford.
Leigh Sports Village, while undoubtedly missing the grandeur and history of United’s century-old stadium, remains an imposing place for teams to travel to, helped in no small part by the proximity of the stands to the pitch.
Until Tanikawa restored the perennial German champions’ lead late on, United were on the verge of heading home with their heads held high
Pernille Harder’s brace – and a third from Tanikawa in the 84th minute – has given United an almighty task to carry with them to the Allianz Arena next week
Here at Old Trafford on a near-freezing Wednesday night, only one of the four stands was open, and the noise generated by those in the Sir Matt Busby Stand struggled to linger.
Perhaps this contributed to the palpable nervousness around the ground before kick-off, and in just 98 seconds, United’s greatest fears came true.
A fizzing pass from Bayern’s Arianna Caruso from deep dropped in front of Maya Le Tissier. The United captain misjudged the trajectory of the ball and found herself wrong-footed and caught in a frantic chase with Bayern’s Pernille Harder.
The inevitability of former Chelsea forward Harder, whom United remember with dread for scoring the match-winning goal that denied them their first major silverware in 2023, returned to haunt them. The 33-year-old Dane latched onto the ball and buried it.
United have been made of sterner stuff in the last couple of seasons, though, and refused to keel over despite having the wind knocked out of their sails.
In fact, they had the better chances in the phase that followed – and had a helping hand from Bayern defender Glodis Perla Viggosdottir just 20 minutes later.
Lea Schuller, who has had a stuttering start to her career in red since her high-profile move from Bayern in January, picked up a wonderful pass from the returning Hinata Miyazawa on the wing and drove towards the box.
Her unconvincing shot towards goal was parried away by the right arm of the retreating Viggosdottir, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
United have been made out of thicker stuff in the last couple of seasons though, twice fighting back to draw the scores level despite going behind
Even more unconvincing was Le Tissier’s penalty. The Lionesses centre-back scuffed her shot, and Bayern goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic should have done better to get down in time, but the scores were level, and that was all that mattered to those in red.
In the second half, Harder struck again. Her goal, an almost carbon copy of her first, was buried into the left-hand corner of Phallon Tullis-Joyce’s net once more.
United’s Hanna Lundkvist popped up with a header to bring the scores level again, before Tanikawa delivered a sweet finish in the 85th minute to restore the Germans’ lead.
Those in red left with their heads hung low. The damage is not final, but it certainly won’t be easy.
