Millie Turner’s stoppage-time header secured a dramatic 3-2 comeback win at Aston Villa to move Manchester United six points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League.
United were on course for a setback in their bid for a maiden WSL title after Rachel Daly’s double either side of Leah Galton’s leveller gave Villa a 2-1 lead and made her the joint-top scorer in the league this season with 17 goals.
But Nikita Parris sparked a second-half comeback for United as she equalised in the 62nd minute.
Nikita Parris celebrates after scoring Man Utd’s equaliser against Aston Villa
Turner’s powerful 93rd-minute header then gave United an incredible win at the Bescot Stadium in one of the games of the WSL season.
United are now six points clear of rivals Manchester City, who host Reading on Sunday, while defending champions Chelsea are seven points back.
The Blues, however, have three games in hand on the leaders and return to WSL action on Wednesday with a home match against Liverpool.
How last-gasp Man Utd kept title hopes alive
Villa took the lead in the ninth minute from a corner after Daly made a good run across the box to guide a brilliant header into the top-left corner.
Their lead was short-lived as six minutes later Ona Batlle hit a fantastic cross to pick out Galton at the back post and the forward stuck her leg out to turn the ball home for the equaliser.
Anna Patten nearly restored Villa’s lead but her header smashed off the crossbar before Hampton made a great save to deny Galton.
Mayumi Pacheco teed up Daly in the 37th minute as the England international completed her double with a first-time effort from Pacheco’s cross, finding the far corner for the hosts to retake the lead going into the break.
Aston Villa players celebrate Rachel Daly’s second goal against Man Utd
Villa came incredibly close to extending their lead in the 60th minute as Daly almost scored a perfect hat-trick smashing the ball off the crossbar.
The visitors then capitalised to level just two minutes later when Hannah Blundell picked out Parris at the far post and she was able to head home from close range.
Turner then found a dramatic winner three minutes into stoppage-time with a great header into the bottom-right corner from a free-kick to spark wild celebrations for the visitors.
Skinner: My heart can’t take any more of that!
Manchester United boss Marc Skinner told BBC Sport: “I don’t think my heart can take any more of that!
“Look, first half we were not good enough. We didn’t raise the intensity and Villa were all over us. We played into their hands, we tried to play a style of football rather than the game itself.
“Second half we addressed that, Villa were excellent [again], but with this team, we find a way, and we found a way again tonight.
“I always keep the faith. I have faith in these players, the staff, in what the club are trying to build.
“We are showing that in performances, whether that means it’s not pretty the whole game, but this stage of the season you have to find a way to win.”
Ward: Loss is ‘sickening’
Aston Villa manager Carla Ward told BBC Sport: “I feel like we deserved something from the game.
“I am not going to comment on that last little bit [the foul that led to the free-kick for Turner’s winner], horribly disappointed by that I am not going to lie.
“We had a couple of opportunities where we hit the bar, we did tremendously well. Credit to Manchester United, they are top of the league for a reason, but it is sickening.
“We are disappointed tonight because we are going home with nothing when we should as a bare minimum have taken a point.”
What’s next?
Manchester United continue their title run-in with a home game against Tottenham on May 7. That game comes seven days before the FA Cup final with Chelsea, before United host Manchester rivals City on May 21, before going to Liverpool on the final day.
Aston Villa‘s next game is also on May 7 with a trip to Reading next on their agenda. Carla Ward’s side then host Liverpool before going to Arsenal on the final day of the WSL season.