WSL: Man United close gap on Chelsea to five points after Leicester win | OneFootball

Manchester United secured another important Women’s Super League win on Sunday as they hosted Leicester City at Leigh Sports Village. The Red Devils are now on an impressive seven-game winning streak and close the gap on leaders Chelsea to five points.

United opened the scoring early with a goal from returning striker Melvine Malard, while winger Leah Galton added to the tally. The two well-placed goals secured all three points and kept pressure on WSL rivals Chelsea.

Malard latched onto a through ball from Toone and coolly slotted beyond Janina Leitzig to put the home side 1-0 up. Then, punishingly for the Foxes, on the stroke of half-time, Galton made it 2-0. More great play from Malard left Galton with an easy finish from close range. United survived a few nervy moments but held on for the win.

Starting XIs

Leicester City

Leitzig; Bott, Ale, Howard, Thibaud, Tierney, Mace, Chaussenotte, Cayman, Goodwin, Eiriksdottir

Manchester United

Tullis-Joyce; George, Le Tissier, Mannion, Toone, Clinton, Malard, Galton, Bizet, Janssen, Turner

Manchester United slice Leicester open in first half display

Heading into the match, Man United sat in second place in the WSL table after six consecutive wins and were looking to keep the pressure on title rivals Chelsea. Both teams had multiple players returning from international duty at the Nations League and SheBelieves Cup.

United were without top scorer Elizabeth Terland after picking up an ankle knock on international duty with Norway. Meanwhile, Leicester rested Japan internationals Saori Takarada and Yuka Momiki after their success at the SheBelieves Cup.

United started quickly, and it only took 19 minutes and three devilish passes to break the deadlock. Maya Le Tissier started out from the back and found fellow Lioness Ella Toone beyond the centre circle. Toone played a delightful pass around Leicester defender Julie Thibaud and into the path of Malard. The French striker, enjoying only her second start of the season, took the ball in her stride, waited for Leicester goalkeeper Leitzig to go to ground and calmly finished.

Half an hour later and crucially right before the half-time break,Malard set up Galton to double United’s lead with a close-range finish in first half injury time.

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The second half

Leicester City introduced Momiki at half-time, which got the Foxes baring their attacking teeth. The Japan attacker quickly forced Phallon Tullis-Joyce into a routine stop with a low strike.

After some good play, Leicester defender CJ Bott took a shot from the wing and nearly caught Tullis-Joyce out as the ball clipped off of the crossbar. Leicester continued to press high up and were unlucky to see both Sam Tierney and Asmita Ale blazed over when presented with good opportunities to get their team back into it. The match ended 2-0, and United took all three points to close the gap on Chelsea.

United were lucky Leicester weren’t more ruthless in front of goal, as they held on for their 10th clean sheet of the season — one more than rivals Chelsea. Leicester remain 10th in the table and are now winless in their last 13 WSL away games.

Chelsea’s surprise 2-2 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion allowed United some room to move in on their lead at the top of the WSL table.

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Coming up next

Amandine Miquel’s Leicester side travel to London to face Chelsea on Wednesday, March 5th. Two days later, Manchester United play Liverpool in a Friday night under-the-lights clash at Anfield.

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