Man Utd 1-3 Man City: Visitors win Manchester derby to boost WSL title hopes

Manchester City have scored six goals in the last 15 minutes of the first half, only Tottenham (seven) have scored more in the WSL this season

Manchester City bounced back from successive defeats to beat rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford and put their Women's Super League title challenge back on track.

United captain Katie Zelem had put the hosts in front, scoring from the penalty spot after England defender Alex Greenwood blocked Melvine Malard's shot with her arm.

However, City's Jill Roord and team-mate Lauren Hemp scored within two minutes of each other to turn the game around in the visitors' favour, and they added a third after the break when Khadjia Shaw charged down goalkeeper Mary Earps' clearance.

With City seemingly in control, United were given a lifeline when Laia Aleixandri was sent off for a second booking, but Marc Skinner's side could not find a response.

Victory moves City up to third in the WSL table, six points behind leaders Chelsea, while United sit one point behind in fourth.

• Reaction to Sunday's WSL action

Kelly revels in victory as City boost title hopes

Following back-to-back defeats by Arsenal and Brighton, City boss Taylor said this week his side needed to go unbeaten for the rest of the season to be in with a shout of winning the title.

They came to Old Trafford under pressure to win and started with intensity, pressing high up the pitch and forcing goalkeeper Earps into some wayward clearances.

Greenwood, Shaw and Alanna Kennedy all had chances from set-pieces, while Hemp tested Earps before United had been able to settle.

Eventually, the home fans had something to cheer about when summer signing Malard began to show creativity, first spinning away from Leila Ouahabi, then flicking the ball over the same opponent to slide it through to Ella Toone, but the England midfielder scuffed her shot in the box.

Malard was United's brightest spark and was rewarded when Greenwood, returning to the City side following a spell out with concussion, could only block her shot with her arm to give away the penalty.

That seemed to spark life into the hosts, cheered on by thousands in the Old Trafford stands, and they thought they had doubled their lead when Geyse pounced on a rebound from her shot to slot the ball over the line.

However, a tight call from the officials went in City's favour as it was ruled out with the ball having gone out of play before Geyse squeezed it in.

Three minutes later Roord fired in the equaliser after Chloe Kelly had beaten Lisa Naalsund on the left, and Hemp punished United again moments later.

Boos rang around Old Trafford as Kelly celebrated in front of the United fans, cupping her ear after Roord's equaliser, before slapping the City badge on her chest when Hemp made it 2-1.

She was one of many players revelling in the victory at the full-time whistle, as City's players raced over to their supporters in the corner dancing and fist-pumping, while United's team huddled around Skinner looking hugely disappointed.

Both teams' priority will be a top-three finish to seal qualification for next season's Champions League, and City know this is a big boost to their WSL title hopes - they could not afford to lose further ground on leaders Chelsea.