Manchester United did not exactly impress against Leicester, and it could easily have ended in a loss as well, but as in the previous season, it rather ended with a 1-0 victory for United at the King Power Stadium.
Substitute Ella Toone was responsible for the big moment of the match with her brilliant long shot in the 83rd minute of the match, which was the only goal of the match.
This was Toone’s 12th goal against Leicester for Manchester United. It had been a while since the last one, but here she reminded Leicester why they should fear her.
Lisa Naalsund and United didn’t just have it easy against Leicester. Matthew Lewis
Goalless first half
There was no doubt which team dominated the first half, because United were clearly better than Leicester, who were waiting.
Nevertheless: United created a number of decent opportunities, but not that many really good chances.
Leah Galton, Melvine Malard and Geyse managed to get some opportunities anyway, but without a result.
Leicester were dangerous going forward when Rantala outwitted Gemma Evans before sending a dangerous shot towards goal, but the ball did not end up between the posts.
It was 0-0 at the break.
Melvine Malard could have needed a goal or two to put in a good bid to play in the FA Cup final, but went off the field goalless. Charlotte Tattersall – MUFC
A surprising exchange
United started the second half the best and after around an hour it seemed as if United had really gained momentum.
Although Geyse had yet to score in terms of goals, she was terrorizing the Leicester defense at the time, creating opportunities for herself and others.
Therefore, it was somewhat surprising when she was replaced along with Melvine Malard in the 63rd minute, and there was reason to fear that it would take the momentum out of United, and soon after Leicester had a hell of a chance to take the lead .
In that situation, Mary Earps suffered an injury which meant that she was down for a number of minutes before she could continue, so perhaps that was rather what destroyed United’s momentum, but United in any case did not look particularly good. Marc Skinner threw in Ella Toone too, without it immediately changing anything – but luckily it did in the end!
Geyse looked the most dangerous until she was replaced. Charlotte Tattersall – MUFC
Toone arranges
Ella Toone has a very good history against Leicester, even though it has been several years since she scored against them.
At the start of her United career, she mostly terrorized Leicester, and she had eleven goals against the Foxes before this match.
In the 83rd minute, goal number 12 against Leicester came for Toone.
Toone loaded the cannon from distance, sending the ball into the crossbar – the kind of goal that deserves to decide any football game.
There were no more goals, and thus United consolidates the favorite stamp in the battle for fourth place, which is primarily important because it is Liverpool that they are fighting with. Fourth place can potentially be secured away to Liverpool next weekend.
Toone decided against Leicester. Charlotte Tattersall – MUFC
Leicester City 0–1 (0-0) Manchester United
FA Women’s Super League
King Power Stadium
Goal: 0-1 Ella Toone (83rd).
Manchester United: Mary Earps – Hannah Blundell, Maya Le Tissier, Millie Turner, Gemma Evans – Lisa Fjeldstad Naalsund (Hayley Ladd, 87.), Katie Zelem (C), Hinata Miyazawa (Ella Toone, 73.)– Geyse (Lucia Garcia). , 63.), Melvine Malard (Nikita Parris, 63.), Leah Galton.
Unused substitutes: Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Aoife Mannion, Irene Guerrero, Alyssa Aherne, Rachel Williams.
LIVE:
1: Lisa Fjeldstad Naalsund kicks off the game for United!
2: United’s high pressure creates trouble for Leicester initially! Finally ends with a Malard heading wide.
3: Suddenly Leicester get some space, and Goodwin wins a corner kick for the home team. It takes the home team short, and then they actually go offside.
5: Miyazawa tries to shoot from distance, but the shot is blocked.
8: Great United attack! Galton finds Malard, who finds Geyse, who spins a Leicester defender before shooting, but the Leicester defender gets her foot forward to block the shot.
15: Geyse gets United a corner kick after good United play, but Leicester gets a header away from Evans’ corner kick.
20: Good shot attempt by Geyse, but the keeper gets it out for a corner kick.
21: Zelem’s corner kick is more dangerous than Evans’ has been so far. The ball hits Malard, who slips the ball to Leah Galton, who tries to send it into the goal with her heel, but the keeper saves again.
29: Geyse with some impressive rapids. She passes the ball to Lisa Naalsund, who passes it to Miyazawa. It is difficult to get a shot, and in the end the shot comes through a Malard brass kick which the goalkeeper unfortunately saves.
33: Malard earns herself a chance with an alert break that leads to her being played through, but her shot is a little too easy for the keeper.
36: Gemma Evans is tricked too easily and Leicester get a shot, but fortunately it goes over and wide.
40: Maya Le Tissier scored in the home game against Leicester, and also scored last weekend against Tottenham, but the long shot she tried now was probably a little too optimistic.
45: Great chance for United! Le Tissier hits a lovely pass into a rather small backroom, where Leah Galton comes and tries to slide the ball into the goal, but she only gets it almost past the keeper.
45+1: Two minutes have been added at the King Power Stadium.
45+2: Leicester try to film themselves for a penalty, but without success. United counter, and almost get to a dangerous shot.
PAUSE.
46: The second half is underway! United go straight into attack, and Miyazawa has a shot blocked.
46: Malard is blown offside after being played through by Zelem, and doesn’t look happy about it.
49: Geyse causes a lot of trouble for Leicester. There are not a few corners she has obtained today. Ideally, something more should come out of it too, and it is worth remembering that Geyse, like many others, is now playing for a place in the final team against Tottenham.
55: Momiki passes Naalsund out on the side, and is passed to Goodwin, who wins the duel with Evans, but luckily she heads wide.
56: Malard heads fairly harmlessly wide from a Zelem cross.
58: Another Le Tissier long shot that goes over.
61: Big chance! Geyse gets through and gets a shot low towards the corner, but Leicester goalkeeper Janina Leitzig strikes with another good save! Shortly afterwards, Miyazawa gets a shot as well, but it goes straight to Leitzig.
62: Geyse cuts in dangerously from the edge, but no one gets on it. Geys looks dangerous now!
63: DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: Lucía García and Nikita Parris come on for Geyse and Melvine Malard. Surprisingly with Geyse out right now as she looks the most dangerous of all.
64: GIANT CHANCE for Leicester. A shot hits the post, and rolls almost on the line, and it rolls past a Leicester player who is on the line. She just barely manages to get her foot on it. The ball ends up with another Leicester player, but the angle is sharp, and Blundell gets hold of the ball and is cleared.
65: Earps is down after that situation. She collided with the Leicester player who ended up lying down. Looked pretty bad and she is now being examined by United’s medical apparatus. Looks like she has a nosebleed.
69: After many minutes down it now looks like the Earps can continue.
72: Ella Toone gets ready.
72: Lucía García is played through, and is not too far away from being able to score, but at least gives United a corner kick
73: SUBSTITUTE: Ella Toone comes on for Hinata Miyazawa.
73: Leicester get a free kick from the corner. Perhaps it was Parris that was blown against.
77: Not much is happening now. United traded away the momentum when Geyse went out, it seems.
78: By the way, we have published an article about Crystal Palace’s promotion to the WSL.
79: Great chance for Leicester’s Momiki! Gets the ball in a good position in front of goal, and sends off a shot, but Mary Earps saves without too much trouble.
82: Great chance for United and Blundell from close range. Maybe she was trying to find a teammate there, but in any case not far from finishing either.
83: GOAL! Fantastic long shot by substitute Ella Toone! Gets the ball from Zelem, turns up and thumps the ball into the crossbar. Lovely!
84: Toone finds García, who shoots, but the keeper saves.
87: SUBSTITUTION: Hayley Ladd replaces Lisa Naalsund.
90: Semi-dangerous Leicester set-piece, but the ball ends up with Earps.
90+1: Eleven minutes have been added. Much of it, of course, due to Mary Earps lying down for several minutes.
90+1: García is played through, but is run up. Gets another chance, and shoots via a Leicester player and into the keeper.
90+6: Leicester and Deanne Rose are causing a lot of problems for United now. United must be careful.
90+6: Leicester get a shot in from a corner, but the ball rolls in for Earps.
90+9: Leicester get a shot after a poor touch in their own half by García, but Earps makes a good save.
90+11: There have been some injuries during overtime here as well, so a few extra minutes may soon be played.
END.