Manchester United Women extended their unbeaten to four matches against Leicester City at the Kingpower Stadium on Sunday as Marc Skinner’s side beat the hosts 1-0. The win — a Nikita Parris header — ensures that United have won all four of their matches in the Women’s Super League.
Katie Zelem’s free kick found Parris, who scored the only goal of the match to keep United level on top of the table with Arsenal.
FIRST HALF
The match was evenly contested and the hosts had the first chance. Foxes player Jemma Purfield raced down the left as United’s defense was left scrambling. Purfield aimed her shot right at keeper Mary Earps, who had no trouble collecting and seeing the ball out of danger.
United quickly found their rhythm and began creating their own chances. Ella Toone played a brilliant pass down the left to Hannah Blundell inside the Leicester box, but Blundell couldn’t put the ball past keeper Kirstie Levell.
Undeterred, Toone created beautiful chance, cutting through the Leicester defense not long after. Not unlike her assist from the previous match against Brighton, she found Leah Galton who sent the ball towards Parris. Parris’s shot went wide of the goal, but she had another chance not long after.
Shortly after the half-hour mark, Katie Zelem’s free kick sailed into the box, where it found Parris. Her powerful header left Levell rooted on the spot to give the visitors the lead and Parris her first WSL goal for United.
Despite their efforts, Leicester failed to equalise and were no trouble for Earps.
SECOND HALF
The hosts had a point to prove and it showed in the second half, which was pretty much the opposite of the first.
They forced Earps into a fantastic save against Josie Green’s long-distance volley; Leicester were a threat to United’s backline and, despite the scoresheet, it was still very much an open game.
The Reds held off the pressure from Leicester to get back into the game. Skinner subbed in two more attackers in Martha Thomas and Rachel Williams (with Hayley Ladd also coming on) but it wasn’t trouble for the Leicester defense.
Perhaps the best chance came near the 80th minute from Toone, but defender Ashleigh Plumptre deflected the effort easily enough.
Despite chances for both sides, United held on to claim all three points and maintain their spot at the top of the table.
United’s next WSL match is against Merseyside rivals Everton on Sunday, in what will no doubt be another crucial match.
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