Mary Earps was booed on her return to English football as Manchester United made it three successive Women’s Champions League victories with a 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford.
The goalkeeper was the Red Devils’ favorite until she left for the French capital at the end of her contract last summer, a decision that did not go down well with many United fans.
Earps’ comments about that selection, which she attributed in part to a perceived lack of urgency on United’s part to tie her down to a new deal, combined with the much-publicized criticism of Hannah Hampton and Sarina Wegman in her new autobiography, meant that much of the focus on the game was around the reception it would receive.
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Speaking before the match, the 32-year-old told the BBC: “I might expect some booing. I hope it will be few, but it could be a lot.”
She didn’t have to wait long to find out, as her first touch received boos from a crowd of nearly 15,000 people.
The negative reaction was not universal and the second time Earps received the ball a number of fans cheered and applauded.
The pantomime-style dynamic continued throughout the match – perhaps appropriate given the circus that has surrounded the Earps over the past two weeks.
United manager Mark Skinner shrugged off suggestions that interest in Earps would overshadow a big occasion for his team, with the historic moment of playing at Old Trafford for the first time in Europe coupled with the chance to make a big step towards the knockout stages.
Skinner gave 21-year-old Safiya Middleton-Patel her first start of the season in goal, with Earps’ successor Fallon Tullis-Joyce feeling the effects of the knock, while Ella Toone and Elizabeth Terland started on the bench.
PSG entered the game looking for their first point but they started the better and Middleton-Battle was lucky to see Jennifer Echegeni’s shot rebound off the inside of the post in just the second minute.
United improved as the half went on, and after Earps was called into play for the first time to fire in a cross, the home side took the lead in the 31st minute.
Melvin Mallard collected a long ball from Jade Rivière down the right flank, who beat French teammate Gregg Mbouk Pathy, cut inside and sent a curling shot into the bottom corner, with Earps helpless.
Middleton-Battle did not look convincing and tipped Rasheedat Ajibade’s cross over the bar but could do nothing about Olga Carmona’s equalizer in the final action of the first half.
The Spanish defender, who scored the winning goal against England in the 2023 World Cup final, picked her spot from 22 yards and found the top corner.
Paris Saint-Germain almost took the lead in the first minute of the second half, but Anais Ebaelin’s powerful shot was blocked by Middleton-Battle, and with 58 minutes having passed, United regained the lead.
A brilliant move, with Jess Park at the heart of it, saw Anna Sandberg cross for Fredolina Rulfo to put her decisively past Earps.
Earps denied Mallard a goal three moments later with a sharp stop at her near post while an excellent save from Rivière ended PSG’s best hope of an equaliser.
