Match report: Leicester 0 United Women 2

Manchester United returned to winning ways in the Barclays WSL on Sunday afternoon, beating Leicester City 2-0 at the King Power Stadium.

On a bitterly cold and wet day, Elisabeth Terland’s third goal since joining the club broke the deadlock with virtually the last touch of the first half, before Celin Bizet’s first in United colours made sure of the result towards the end – bringing a run of three consecutive draws to a close.

There was a first WSL start for the composed Simi Awujo in midfield, while Anna Sandberg also made an assured debut off the bench after recovering from injury.

This was a historic weekend for women’s football in England too, with all 12 games across the top two divisions played at clubs’ main stadiums. Both sides also supported the Rainbow Laces campaign, with United donning shirts bearing special rainbow coloured numbers, while Leicester marked the occasion by donning pre-game jerseys.

FIRST HALF

Although the hosts had the first shot of the match when Hannah Cain fired over from the edge of the box, United soon began to dominate and raised the pressure.

The Foxes only narrowly survived going behind when Grace Clinton ghosted into the box to meet a cross from Geyse, with the glancing header falling agonisingly wide of the far post. Geyse was involved again soon after, trying to lash the ball fiercely across the six-yard box that forced Sari Kees to throw herself in front of it.

It was CJ Bott who thwarted United just over half an hour in. Terland had dropped deep to play in Geyse via the inside right channel, and with Clinton and Bizet both waiting at the far post, the Leicester right-back was just able to hook the cross away before it reached them.

Many inside the King Power thought Cain had put Leicester ahead in the closing stages of the first half. Home fans jumped to their feet as she swept the ball towards goal from a few yards out after Yuka Momiki’s shot was deflected into her path by Millie Turner’s vital block. But to United’s relief, it went just wide.

Just as it looked as though the half would end goal-less, Geyse dropped the shoulder on the right to beat Bott and engineer enough space to cut back a floated cross into the box that Terland powered back across goal with her head, beyond the reach of the diving Janina Leitzig.

SECOND HALF

Bizet threatened with a spectacular effort soon after the restart. It ultimately didn’t trouble Leitzig, missing the target, but the attempted overhead near the penalty spot was brilliant improvisation to generate a chance.

Geyse remained a thorn in Leicester’s side, with the Foxes struggling to deal with our No.23’s trickery in tight spaces. As the Reds searched for a second goal, Clinton again went close as a header following a free-kick from the right flew wide.

Clinton and Geyse also continued to combine when the former slid a ball in front of the latter, requiring crucial intervention from Kees.

There had also been a few reminders to stay defensively alert during the half. On one occasion, Jayde Riviere cut out a pass that would have put Cain through on goal, while Leicester substitute Deanne Rose lashed a shot not far wide of the target from the right.

With just under 15 minutes to go, Leitzig stood her ground to deny Bizet in a one-on-one situation, with a combination of the goalkeeper and Kees then also doing enough to stop Clinton from snatching the rebound. But as the rain began to fall heavier, Leicester’s remaining resistance broke, with Bizet capitalising on a short back pass from Bott and not giving Leitzig a chance second time round with a cool finish, making sure of the three points.

MATCH DETAILS

Leicester: Leitzig; Bott, Howard, Kees, Nevin (Ale 86); Momiki, Mace (Pelgander 86); Cain (Goodwin 66), Chossenotte (Rose 71), Takarada; Cayman (c).

Unused substitutes: Kop, Las, Sherwood, Swaby, Thibaud.

Booked: Mace 76.

United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier (c), Turner, George (Sandberg 64); Awujo (Ladd 86), Janssen; Geyse (Malard 86), Clinton (Miyazawa 86), Bizet; Terland (Williams 74).

Unused substitutes: Middleton-Patel, Newell, Simpson, Watson.

Goals: Terland 45+3, Bizet 81.

Booked: George 48, Le Tissier 84.

Recommended:

• Match photos: Leicester (A)

   Gallery

  Enjoy the best snaps from United Women’s WSL trip to the King Power Stadium.

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