Elisabeth Terland scored her first goals for Manchester United in a comfortable 3-0 Women’s Super League victory over Tottenham.
The Norwegian led the line in the absence of the injured Melvine Malard and produced two excellent finishes late in the first half before Maya Le Tissier added a third from the penalty spot after 59 minutes.
The result preserved United’s 100 per cent start to the campaign without conceding a goal while Spurs only have one win from their four matches.
It was Tottenham, who had Bethany England back in their side, that made the better start at Leigh Sports Village as they attempted to take revenge following last season’s one-sided FA Cup final loss to United.
Former United player Martha Thomas created an excellent opportunity for herself in the fourth minute after a good move down the left, cutting inside but seeing her close-range shot blocked behind by Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
England then shot well wide after being played in by Thomas before Drew Spence let fly from long range with a shot that was tipped over by Tullis-Joyce but was probably just too high anyway.
The watching Sarina Wiegman then saw two England players team up to create United’s first real chance, Ella Toone squaring the ball for Grace Clinton, who starred on loan with Spurs last season, to hit a first-time shot that was well saved by Becky Spencer.
The home side found the breakthrough in the 44th minute when former Spurs forward Celin Bizet crossed from the right and Terland met the ball with a sweetly-struck right-footed volley high into the net.
It was a superb way to get off the mark for the 23-year-old following her summer move from Brighton, and she made it two before half-time, Bizet again the provider and Terland this time meeting the cross with a powerful header.
Terland would have got a hat-trick early in the second half but for another good save from Spencer, who pushed her shot onto a post.
United did not have to wait long for another, though, the referee pointing to the spot after Toone’s cross flicked Ashleigh Neville’s arm and captain Le Tissier calmly slotted away the spot-kick.
Tottenham’s attempts at a response failed to generate clear-cut chances and it was United who nearly found a fourth.
First Spencer produced an excellent save to keep out substitute Rachel Williams’ deflected effort, and the keeper then just about managed to deal with Clinton’s opportunistic shot after back-pedalling.
Spurs threatened in eight minutes of stoppage time, with Tullis-Joyce diving to her left to keep out another shot from Spence and preserve her clean sheet.