Report: Leicester City 0 United Women 1
Manchester United are back to winning ways in the Women's Super League with a 1-0 victory over Leicester City.
A close encounter between the two sides was ultimately decided via a bit of individual brilliance from Ella Toone.
United's no.7 was introduced to the game late in the second half, coming on for Hinata Miyazawa, and rifled an unstoppable effort past a diving Janina Leitzig to secure all three points at the King Power Stadium.
The Foxes' shot-stopper kept us at bay on a number of occasions, while the hosts themselves were unlucky not to get on the scoresheet with the woodwork denying them.
Marc Skinner’s side started brightly at the King Power Stadium, looking to edge ahead with an early opener. Melvine Malard came close to doing just that inside the opening two minutes of Sunday’s encounter, but her headed effort bounced just wide of the mark.
Moments later, the Reds had another chance to break the deadlock, this time it fell to Geyse. Slick football from our front three saw Leah Galton and Malard combine, the latter slotting in our Brazilian no.23, whose effort forced Janice Cayman into a huge block. Geyse soon got the chance to unleash a shot on target soon after, but Leitzig was equal to it.
United continued to cause problems for our opponents, with Geyse and Malard in particular giving the Foxes plenty to answer for. Our Brazilian winger burst down the right and looked to pull it back to the onrushing Lisa Naalsund, who in turn attempted to play in Hinata, but her effort was blocked. Malard was first to react to the loose ball with an ambitious overhead kick that Leitzig gathered comfortably.
Moments later, the Reds had another chance to break the deadlock, this time it fell to Geyse. Slick football from our front three saw Leah Galton and Malard combine, the latter slotting in our Brazilian no.23, whose effort forced Janice Cayman into a huge block. Geyse soon got the chance to unleash a shot on target soon after, but Leitzig was equal to it.
United continued to cause problems for our opponents, with Geyse and Malard in particular giving the Foxes plenty to answer for. Our Brazilian winger burst down the right and looked to pull it back to the onrushing Lisa Naalsund, who in turn attempted to play in Hinata, but her effort was blocked. Malard was first to react to the loose ball with an ambitious overhead kick that Leitzig gathered comfortably.
Our no.9 saw Leicester’s keeper equal to yet another attempt, this time from just outside the box. Looking to get out of their own half, the home side pushed forward in an attempt to get a goal completely against the run of play, and almost took the lead through Jutta Rantala. The Finnish forward curled an effort from the edge of the area and, while it had Mary Earps diving at full stretch, the shot sailed just over.
Arguably our best opening of the game came on the stroke of half-time. Surging forward from defence to midfield, Maya Le Tissier floated a pinpoint diagonal pass right into the path of Galton who, despite connecting well, could only watch as Leitzig parried it away from danger. United were unable to reap the reward of a dominant showing in the first 45, heading into the interval level at 0-0.
Arguably our best opening of the game came on the stroke of half-time. Surging forward from defence to midfield, Maya Le Tissier floated a pinpoint diagonal pass right into the path of Galton who, despite connecting well, could only watch as Leitzig parried it away from danger. United were unable to reap the reward of a dominant showing in the first 45, heading into the interval level at 0-0.
The hosts had the first clear chance of the second half, with Yuka Momiki showing off impressive skill to skip past her opponent on the byline and float a dangerous ball into the box. It was met by the diving head of Missy Goodwin, but the attempt bounced well wide.
After a slow start, the Reds regained our footing following the break and began to create several opportunities going forward. Geyse, a constant thorn in the side of the Foxes, drove down the right before dragging a shot toward the bottom corner, but Leitzig stuck out a leg to deny our no.23 once more in the Midlands.
A few minutes later, the German goalkeeper appeared to scuff her pass out from the back, directly into the feet of Naalsund who looked to lay off Hinata, but our no.20 could only hit the ball directly into the arms of Leitzig.
After a slow start, the Reds regained our footing following the break and began to create several opportunities going forward. Geyse, a constant thorn in the side of the Foxes, drove down the right before dragging a shot toward the bottom corner, but Leitzig stuck out a leg to deny our no.23 once more in the Midlands.
A few minutes later, the German goalkeeper appeared to scuff her pass out from the back, directly into the feet of Naalsund who looked to lay off Hinata, but our no.20 could only hit the ball directly into the arms of Leitzig.
At the other end, home supporters were left aghast that the Foxes had not taken the lead when the ball rolled along the goal line in slow motion. The move began with Rantala, who pinged an excellent cross-field ball out to Goodwin on the left. Leicester’s no.20 put a teasing ball into the box, parried by Earps at full stretch, but only into the path of Momiki. The Japan international somehow hit the post from close range and Lena Petermann couldn’t bundle it in for the opener.
Leicester’s shot-stopper, Leitzig, had an answer for everything United threw at her, until the introduction of Reds' no.7, that is. Toone was called on by Marc Skinner to help us find a winner, before taking it upon herself to put a goal-of-the-season contender in the top corner. From range, Toone knocked the ball into space before rifling her attempt into the roof of the net to break the deadlock in the approach to full-time.
The Foxes pushed for an equaliser at the death, with over 11 minutes of added time at their disposal, but a number of quality saves from Earps and resilient defending at the back was crucial in preserving a clean sheet on the road.
Leicester’s shot-stopper, Leitzig, had an answer for everything United threw at her, until the introduction of Reds' no.7, that is. Toone was called on by Marc Skinner to help us find a winner, before taking it upon herself to put a goal-of-the-season contender in the top corner. From range, Toone knocked the ball into space before rifling her attempt into the roof of the net to break the deadlock in the approach to full-time.
The Foxes pushed for an equaliser at the death, with over 11 minutes of added time at their disposal, but a number of quality saves from Earps and resilient defending at the back was crucial in preserving a clean sheet on the road.
MATCH DETAILS
Leicester: Leitzig; Cayman, Thibaud, Howard, Ale (Bott 68); Takarada (Pelgander 90+9); Rantala, Tierney, Momiki, Goodwin (Rose 68); Petermann.
Unused substitutes: Kop, Nevin, Palmer, Whelan, Green, Siemsen.
Booked: Bott.
United: Earps; Blundell, Turner, Le Tissier, Evans; Zelem, Naalsund (Ladd 87), Miyazawa (Toone 73); Geyse (Garcia 62), Malard (Parris 62), Galton.
Unused substitutes: Tullis-Joyce, Mannion, Guerrero, Aherne, Williams.
Goal: Toone 83.
Leicester: Leitzig; Cayman, Thibaud, Howard, Ale (Bott 68); Takarada (Pelgander 90+9); Rantala, Tierney, Momiki, Goodwin (Rose 68); Petermann.
Unused substitutes: Kop, Nevin, Palmer, Whelan, Green, Siemsen.
Booked: Bott.
United: Earps; Blundell, Turner, Le Tissier, Evans; Zelem, Naalsund (Ladd 87), Miyazawa (Toone 73); Geyse (Garcia 62), Malard (Parris 62), Galton.
Unused substitutes: Tullis-Joyce, Mannion, Guerrero, Aherne, Williams.
Goal: Toone 83.
Back to Top