Ruthless City hit Leicester for six | OneFootball

City extended our lead at the Barclays Women’s Super League summit to 11 points for at least 48 hours with a dominant 6-0 win over Leicester.

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw headed home the opener midway through the first half, with a Vivianne Miedema brace and Yui Hasegawa strike putting us out of sight before the break.

Kerolin made it five soon after the restart from range before substitute Aoba Fujino got in on the act after the hour mark.

It was a performance of attacking superlatives from the WSL leaders, who’ve won all eight of our matches on home soil this season.

What happened

City were full value for our four-goal half-time lead but, despite the game being played on Friday 13th, we experienced a bit of early luck when Alisha Lehmann’s effort came back off the post and dribbled across the line, but not over it.

That foray was an exception to the rule though as the hosts laid siege to Leicester’s goal, with Miedema hitting the woodwork before seeing a close-range header smothered by Clark.

But the pressure paid off midway through the half when Shaw met Lauren Hemp’s cross with a diving header to open the scoring.

A second would follow before the half-hour mark, with Miedema stealing the ball off Ashleigh Neville on the edge of the Leicester box before firing low past Clark, with the Dutch forward heading Hemp’s cross into the net soon after for three.

The visitors hit the woodwork again in between those Miedema efforts when Shannon O’Brien smacked a rebound against the crossbar, but the game was effectively put beyond doubt when Hasegawa’s first-time effort from a Kerolin cutback made it four.

The Brazilian got in on the act herself soon after the break when her vicious drive from the edge of the box was too hot for Clark to handle, with Fujino making it six after Hasegawa had stolen the ball off Chantelle Swaby inside the Leicester area.

We looked destined for a seventh when Shaw rounded Clark with 15 to play, only for Julie Thibaud to make an excellent recovery challenge on the line.

The Jamaican had the ball in the net again with virtually the last kick of the game after meeting a dangerous ball into the Leicester box, but the offside flag meant we had to settle for a six-goal triumph.

Perfect Response

City were beaten for the first time since September in our last outing, but any fears of that setback affecting us were soon forgotten.

Four goals in the space of 16 minutes put the game to bed before the break, and just two between Miedema’s second and Hasegawa’s effort.

That sort of mentality from the players to always ask for more has served us well this season and was on show again at the Joie Stadium.

Double dutch

Vivianne Miedema’s reputation as one of the WSL’s most dangerous attackers precedes itself, but our number 10 was at her best under the Joie lights.

Afforded far too much space by the visitors, Viv was a constant menace and could even have had a third or fourth if not for the woodwork and a couple of late blocks.

The WSL’s record goalscorer, Miedema is rapidly approaching 100 in the top flight and is now only behind Shaw in the rankings for 2025/26.

100-up for Ouahabi

Leila Ouahabi’s introduction just before the hour mark saw her become the latest City player to make 100 appearances for the Club.

The Spain defender is only the 22nd player in our professional history to hit the landmark, and the seventh member of our current squad.

Congratulations to Leila from everyone at City!

Player of the Match: Lauren Hemp

The England winger was simply unplayable at times, with two assists just rewards for a phenomenal display.

Hemp’s energy and quality lit up a freezing night at the Joie, and she was perhaps the standout in an excellent overall team display.

What it means

The Blues move 11 points clear at the top of the WSL with victory.

Second-placed Manchester United could close that gap back down to eight with a win on Sunday against London City Lionesses.

View full table

How we lined up

City XI: Yamashita, Rose, Knaak, Greenwood (C) (Ouahabi 58’), Casparij (Beney 77’), Coffey (Blindkilde Brown 77’), Hasegawa, Hemp, Kerolin (Fujino 58’), Miedema (Clinton 58’), Shaw

Subs: Keating, Coombs, Lohmann, Prior

Leicester XI: Clark, Kees (Ale 69’), Van Egmond, Mouchon, Lehmann (Williams 59’), Thibaud, Mayling, McLoughlin, O’Brien (Payne 59’), Neville (C), Swaby

Subs: Goodwin, Keane, Cain, Ayane, Walne

Up Next

Attentions turn to the FA Cup next Sunday, with City welcoming Sheffield United to the Joie Stadium at 14:00 (UK).

Tickets for our fifth-round tie are still available to purchase by clicking here.