Incredible, immense, intense. Those were just some of the words Manchester United manager Marc Skinner used to describe Elisabeth Terland after Sunday’s win over Tottenham.
The Norway striker, who joined United from Brighton in the summer, netted her first two goals for the club in the space of five minutes to help the club seal a 3-0 victory.
Her first goal was a fantastic volley as she stuck out her right leg to smash a cross from Celin Bizet in off the underside of the crossbar.
The second was more straightforward – a header at the back post that looped over the head of Spurs goalkeeper Becky Spencer.
“I just think she’s an incredible talent,” Skinner said in his post-match interview.
“The beauty of her is I think she slows the moment and sees the opportunity under the most immense pressure.”
Having been the weaker side for much of the first half, it was Terland’s two goals that changed the tide for United.
It also helped to ensure their 100% record in the Women’s Super League this season stayed intact, with three wins and three clean sheets from three games.
Asked to describe Terland as a player, Skinner said: “Intense in a good way.
“She is a person that is always focused, she doesn’t dip off her focus whether it’s pressing or whatever the task is, she’s all in.
“I think she knows [Erling] Haaland personally and I don’t want to compare the two but the immense and intense action of both of them, that’s how she performs.”
‘My job is to score goals’
Manchester United finished fifth in the league last season – 15 points off third place and the chance to qualify for the Champions League.
They lacked an out-and-out goalscorer leading the frontline, with Nikita Parris finishing the campaign as the club’s top scorer in the WSL with only eight goals.
Terland, meanwhile, was firing home on a regular basis for Brighton, registering 13 WSL goals despite the Seagull’s disappointing ninth-placed finish.
“I came to a club that wants to achieve big things. I know playing in a better team will make me better,” Terland told Sky Sports.
“Part of my job is to score goals – it is great to get the first one for the club. A good win today and I am proud of the team.”
‘Terland’s performance was fabulous’
While Terland stole the show at Leigh Sports Village with two superb goals, she also impressed with her hold-up play and her ability to drop deep and defend.
“She was fantastic. Her performance overall was fabulous,” former Wales boss Jayne Ludlow told Sky Sports.
“I was impressed with how well she defended and the shift she put in throughout the game, but even more important as a centre forward is finishing those chances.”
Terland said she should have wrapped up a hat-trick, but her low strike was brilliantly tipped on to the woodwork by Spurs’ Spencer.
“They knew when Elisabeth Terland was brought in that she had already proved herself in the WSL with Brighton,” former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Brighton struggled to lose her and she’s a talismanic figure up front for Manchester United.”