Report: Leicester 0 United Women 2

The result at the King Power Stadium also makes it nine unbeaten, extending a run that stretches back almost two months, and consolidates our grip on second place in the WSL table, before fourth-place Arsenal host leaders Manchester City and third-place Chelsea travel to fifth-place Tottenham.

Often rotating the team in recent weeks to keep players fresh, Marc Skinner again called on the deeper squad for this one. Hanna Lundkvist was handed her maiden WSL start, while fellow January addition Lea Schuller also came into the side, in place of Jayde Riviere and Eisabeth Terland.

There was also a very familiar face starting up front for the opposition, too, with former Reds favourite Rachel Williams leading the line after her recent homecoming move.

United led 1-0 for most of the contest thanks to Julia Zigiotti’s unorthodox first-half strike from distance, her third goal in the last five games to continue a splendid start to 2026. Terland then wrapped up the three points with a goal off the bench towards the end.

It was the 10th WSL goal this season scored or assisted (or both) by a United substitute, the most of any club so far to again highlight the depth in the squad.

FIRST HALF

Looking to make a fast start, United dominated the ball from the beginning in trying to find gaps in the Leicester defence. There was an early test for goalkeeper Olivia Clark when Melvine Malard took the ball on the outside and fired across goal from the left.

Combinations on both the right and left were starting to ask questions of the Foxes, although there was some fortune about Zigiotitt’s 13th-minute breakthrough. Her ball into the box was intended for the head of Schuller but ended up travelling all the way into the net – our striker’s run and jump across the eyeline of Clark seemed to wrongfoot her just enough for the ball to pass.

United kept the pressure up and Clark needed sharp reflexes a few minutes later to parry Malard’s strike, destined for the far bottom corner, to safety.

The result of Leicester falling behind was the hosts banking up closer to their goal to try and stop United from playing and gaining a foothold in the game.

From that sturdier platform, they did manufacture a couple of openings just over half an hour in, first as Alisha Lehmann cut the ball back from the byline and shortly after as Hannah Cain whipped the ball into the box. Zigiotti smartly dealt with the first danger and Phallon Tullis-Joyce punched clear the latter.

Set-pieces presented United with a few more chances before the break. Dominique Janssen sent a long-range free-kick the wrong side of the post, while a delivery destined for Schuller’s head was cut out just before it reached her by the backtracking Williams. At the end of the half, a corner did reach Lundkvist’s head, but the timing of her leap was slightly off and the attempt narrowly cleared the bar.

SECOND HALF

Leicester made a better start after the break, with Cain threatening a couple of times from the right early on. Williams also connected with a header at the far post that was plucked out of the air, quite comfortably in the end, by Tullis-Joyce.

Skinner countered the home side’s growing confidence by introducing Riviere and Fridolino Rolfo only 10 minutes on from the break. The next chance was crafted by players already on the pitch, though, as Lisa Naalsund slipped in Schuller with a reverse pass, shooting wide on the angle. Simi Awujo and Terland then entered the fray just past the hour mark.

A few moments later, Terland was disappointed to see a back-post header miss the target from Anna Sandberg’s corner. Almost immediately, the same player was denied by a Clark save as the Reds began to turn the screw again with 25 minutes to go.

But the one-goal lead still added some vulnerability that was highlighted when Leicester substitute Noemie Mouchon forced Tullis-Joyce into an important low save. Clark was tested again at the other end when Awujo lashed a half volley towards the bottom far corner, turning the ball behind.

Leicester sensed an opportunity to get a result in the closing stages, only for United to respond with the crucial second goal from Terland. Zigiotti, named Barclays Player of the Match for her all-round performance, was responsible, pressing Leicester captain Sam Tierney deep in Foxes territory. She found Terland, whose clever footwork prevented the defenders closing in from taking the ball off her, before digging out a left-footed finish back across goal that nestled in the bottom corner.

Deep into stoppage time, Terland nearly had her second of the game thanks to a lightning-quick turn in the box. But Clark was equal to the low shot to keep the margin of victory at two.

MATCH DETAILS

Leicester: Clark; Mayling, Kees, Swaby, Ale (Goodwin 89), Neville; Cain (O’Brien 62), Tierney (c), Van Egmond, Lehmann; Williams (Mouchon 62).

Subs not used: Keane, Payne, Thibaud, Walne, McLoughlin, Ayane.

Booked: Tierney.

United: Tullis-Joyce; Lundkvist (Riviere 57), Le Tissier (c), Janssen, Sandberg; Zigiotti, Miyazawa; Park (Wangerheim 85), Naalsund (Awujo 64), Malard (Rolfo 57); Schuller (Terland 64).

Subs not used: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, George, Turner.

Goals: Zigiotti 13, Terland 88.

Booked: Lundkvist. 

Attendance: 5,474