Brave Albion beaten by Manchester United

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Albion 2, Manchester United 3: Kirby and Seike on target but United edge thriller at the Broadfield Stadium.

Bruce Talbot

2025-11-02T14:00+00:00

Fran Kirby scores her second goal of the season to get Albion back into the game. 📷Kyle Hemsley

Albion suffered their first home defeat of the season despite an impressive display against WSL title chasers Manchester United.

Dario Vidosic’s side fell behind just before the break when ex-Albion striker Elisabeth Terland found the bottom corner as Albion appealed for offside.

The impressive Jess Park made it 2-0 but after Kiko Seike hit the post Fran Kirby pulled one back midway through second half – only the fourth goal United have conceded this season.

United made it 3-1 in the last minute through substitute Lisa Naalsund but Seike scored in stoppage time – the first time United had conceded more than once all season. They couldn’t find an equaliser but Albion contributed a lot to an entertaining game.

Albion had been the equals of United for much of the first half. Solid and organised at the back and brave in possession they were unfortunate to trail at the break after creating some good opportunities of their own.

Kiko Seike tussles with Anna Sandberg. 📷Kyle Hemsley

Maisie Symonds fired over from the edge of the box after an effort by Kirby was blocked while United keeper was tested by Jelena Cankovic’s 20-yarder.

With Seike a threat and Kirby knitting things together between the lines United had to be alert although they also had their moments with Park and Ella Toone prominent.

United broke through just before half-time and Albion could feel hard done by. Julia Zigiotti helped on Toone’s pass and Terland swept it into the bottom corner from 12 yards. Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie’s protests and Terland’s muted celebration suggested she was offside and TV replays proved it – but the goal stood.

Albion started the second half brightly with Kirby lobbing wide of goal but they conceded a second goal on 58 minutes. Toone, with her back to goal, spotted Park’s run and finished well from the edge of the box for her fourth goal of the season.

Rosa Kafaji looks for options. 📷Kyle Hemsley

Albion weren’t discouraged and Seike, now playing alongside Kirby up front, went desperately close to pulling one back four minutes later.

She darted into the box from the left and beat Tullis-Joyce but her right-foot shot came back off the far post.

On 68 minutes the Seagulls deservedly got back into the game. Charlie Rule headed the ball forward from the halfway line to Marisa Olislagers and she spotted Kirby’s run across Anna Sandberg and delivered a perfectly weighted pass.

Kirby still had work to do but she did it with aplomb, directing a left-foot shot into the bottom corner for her second goal of the season. Game on.

Nnadozie tipped Terland’s close-range over but Albion kept pushing and Seike headed Rachel McLauchlan’s cross wide but United made the game safe in the 89th minute with Park claiming another assist with a precise pass into the path of Lisa Naaslund who hit it first-time into the far corner.

Carla Camacho holds off Anna Sandberg. 📷Kyle Hemsley

Albion weren’t finished and in stoppage time Seike pounced after a mistake in possession by ex-Seagull Maya Le Tissier and lifted the ball past Tullis-Joyce and it was United who were hanging on at the end.