Manchester United finally gave their supporters something to smile about, and they did so emphatically.
The Reds made a winning start to their 2026/27 Subway Players Cup campaign with a huge 10-1 win over Sheffield United at the Progress With Unity Stadium, securing their first home win of the season.
It was a night packed with individual milestones, with six different players finding the net and Eva Olid securing her first competitive victory as Manchester United head coach.
There was also a memorable evening for summer signing Rebeca Bernal, who made her first start for the club after coming off the bench in United’s opening two WSL matches. Janina Leitzig, who joined from Leicester City in July, also made her debut in goal.
United needed little time to take control. Maya Le Tissier opened the scoring from the penalty spot after a handball, before Bernal doubled the advantage with the first of her two bullet headers.
Then came Mared Griffiths. Making her first senior start for Manchester United, the young Welsh forward took her opportunity brilliantly, finding the back of the net to make it 3-0 and announce herself on the senior stage.
Lea Schüller soon added a fourth before Ella Toone made it five shortly before half-time, leaving Sheffield United with an almost impossible task after just 45 minutes.
There was no let-up from the Reds after the break. Schüller grabbed her second shortly after the restart, while Bernal also completed her brace with another powerful header to make it 7-0.
Jess Simpson then got in on the act, opening her Manchester United account when her corner found its way directly into the net, but the biggest individual moment of the night belonged to Griffiths.
The teenager added two more goals after the interval to complete her hat-trick, turning her first senior start into a dream debut. Three goals on your first senior start is some way to introduce yourself.
Sheffield United did manage a consolation through Amy Andrews, but the result had long since been settled by that point.
There were still more milestones to celebrate for United, with young defender Scarlett Hill becoming the club’s 20th Academy graduate to make a senior appearance when she came on as a substitute.
For Olid, the evening provided a first competitive win in the United dugout. For Bernal and Simpson, there were first goals in the famous red shirt. Leitzig made her debut, while Griffiths announced herself in spectacular fashion but, most importantly, United finally looked free and ruthless in attack.
After a difficult opening to the campaign, there was a confidence about the Reds that their supporters have been waiting to see. They moved the ball with purpose, created chances consistently and continued to attack even after the outcome was beyond doubt.
Ten goals is a statement, even with the context of the competition and opposition taken into account.
United now sit top of the Subway Players Cup table on goal difference at this early stage of the league phase, but the bigger challenge will be carrying this momentum into the WSL.
One cup victory does not suddenly solve everything, but after a frustrating start to the season, this was exactly the kind of night Manchester United and their supporters needed, and for Griffiths, it was a night she will never forget.
