Manchester United 4-0 Leicester City: United off to a flying WSL start with star names impressing | OneFootball

Manchester United are off the mark in the Barclays Women’s Super League after an impressive 4-0 win over Leicester in their opening game of the campaign.

Last season, United enjoyed their second-best ever league finish, coming third in the WSL and entering the Champions League qualifying rounds. After a slow summer transfer window, the club kicked off their new league campaign at home to a Leicester City team without a permanent head coach in place.

Still reeling from the sudden departure of head coach Amandine Miquel, The Foxes appointed interim boss Rick Passmoor mere days ago, giving him little time with his new team ahead of a difficult run of fixtures to start the season.

As it happened

With a midweek trip to Norway looming, United were eager for a quick start. The Red Devils came out strong, taking full advantage of Leicester’s early disorganisation in midfield to get the ball moving.

It didn’t take long for United to break the deadlock, with space opening up in the box. In a typically selfless move, Elisabeth Terland got her toe to the ball and laid it off to Toone, allowing United’s number seven to slot it home. Shortly after, United added a second as Terland met a brilliant cross from Jayde Riviere and powered in a header.

After taking a 2-0 lead, United eased off the gas, likely with their trip to Norway in mind. Leicester struggled to capitalise on this lull, despite a few communication errors in the United defence. They had a couple of opportunities but lacked the quality to convert them.

The second half began similarly, with United maintaining control but failing to create many clear-cut chances. Leicester occasionally threatened on the counter, but United’s defence held firm. A third goal came when Dutch defender Dominique Janssen delivered a perfect cross for Malard, who headed it in. Malard added United’s fourth goal just minutes later.

Jess Park made her debut, quickly impressing with her technical footwork to thread a pass into the box through a crowded Leicester defense. While she didn’t score, she made a strong impression on her first outing, and the crowd at Leigh Sports Village cheered her every move.

United face Norwegian side Brann Kvinner midweek in their final Champions League qualifier, followed by league debutantes London City Lionesses. Leicester await a Liverpool side just beaten 4-1 by fierce rivals Everton.

The lineups

MUN: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Janssen, Sandberg; Zigiotti Olme, Toone, Miyazawa; Bizet Dønnum, Terland, Malard