Ella Toone’s dream derby for Man Utd but nightmare for Man City keeper Khiara Keating
While United fans sang a ditty for Toone at one end of the pitch, City striker Viviana Miedema comforted goalkeeper Keating at the other end as the final whistle blew.
A derby defeat, another setback in City’s WSL title race and several costly individual errors meant a nightmare night for 20-year-old Keating.
The England goalkeeper roared in frustration throughout. First, when her short pass to Laila Wahhabi set up Thun for her second goal, making it 3-0, and then when her clearance was blocked by Tran, Thun made it 3-0. At 4-2, and crucially, just seconds after the restart, City began to look for chances to go forward after the first half.
With her arms raised and screaming to the heavens, it looked like Keating’s night couldn’t get any worse, but United fans laughed at her goal throughout the second half.
“Time is a good medicine. She will be fine, she will be in pain like all of us,” City manager Gareth Taylor said.
“We win, lose and draw together as a team. There’s no personal blame. I think she feels worse.”
It’s not Keating’s first misstep, but the young goalkeeper has made comebacks before – reclaiming her No.1 jersey and being named to the England squad.
She left Meadow Park in tears as her late mistake helped Arsenal won 2-1 In November 2023, a costly disruption occurred at their jobs FA Cup quarter-final loss to Tottenham Hotspur last year.
But Taylor is confident Keating will return again, although competition for her place from summer signing Ayaka Yamashita will undoubtedly add to the pressure.
“She has shown before (she can bounce back) and she will do it again. We never put the blame in either direction, so I think she will be fine within a few days,” the City boss added .
“Despite United’s aggression we fell into their hands and we need to do better.
“We’re not going to be a team that kills long or kicks long under me. There was space at times tonight and we took advantage of it – but we need to execute the goal kicks better” .
