Manchester United secured their seventh consecutive Women's Super League (WSL) victory on Sunday, defeating Leicester City 2-0 at Leigh Sports Village. With this triumph, United kept the pressure on league leaders Chelsea, reducing the gap at the top of the table to just five points. The win showcased the impressive performances of forward Melvine Malard, who scored one goal and assisted another, and Leah Galton, who sealed the match with United's second goal just before half-time.
United started the match on the front foot, controlling possession and dictation but initially struggled to create clear opportunities. The breakthrough came after 19 minutes when Malard, making her second start of the season, latched onto a well-timed through ball from Ella Toone. With remarkable composure, she deftly evaded Leicester goalkeeper Janina Leitzig with her shoulder drop before slotting the ball home to break the deadlock.
Despite their confidence-boosting opening goal, United faced some tense moments soon after. A strong appeal for a penalty arose when Leicester's Sam Tierney appeared to handle the ball inside the area, but referee Phoebe Cross dismissed the claims.
Just before the first-half whistle, Malard doubled United's lead with another brilliant play. After receiving the ball from Toone, she turned provider, sending Galton through to finish clinically from close range.
Marc Skinner, United's manager, expressed his satisfaction after the match, acknowledging the team's fatigue from the international break. “I felt we might fall off a little bit second half because we have only had two days to prepare from international duty,” he said. “Winners find a way to win, and we have done just this.”
Leicester, under Amandine Miquel's management, improved after half-time, largely due to the introduction of Nicole Momiki, whose presence boosted their attacking threat. The Foxes began to capitalize on United's occasional lapses, with CJ Bott coming close to scoring after hitting the crossbar. Tierney and teammate Aasmita Ale squandered several golden opportunities, remaining without a goal for much of the contest.
Miquel reflected on the performance saying, “We didn't do enough in the first half clearly. We were much improved after the break but it wasn't enough. We gave ourselves troubles alone, were late, and opened up options which made it easier for them to score.”
This victory marked United's tenth clean sheet of the season, surpassing Chelsea's record by one, which is key heading toward the latter part of the league campaign. United now have had their best start to the new calendar year, winning all five WSL matches played so far, which is quite the achievement considering they faced Chelsea just last November, suffering their only defeat and low point of the season. Skinner's squad has shown growth since then.
Malard's excellent outing may lead to more playing time, especially with key players like Elisabeth Terland absent due to injury. Terland, who has scored seven goals since her transfer from Brighton last summer, has been influential for United this season. Unavailable for this match, Malard proved she can handle the pressure and expectations of being thrust upon the front line.
“A great headache,” Skinner commented on Malard's impressive form, stating he was thrilled for her contributions. Malard herself is eager to maintain her place, stating, “It’s a good game for me today, I needed this. I hope to play and score more. I want to build on this momentum.”
Looking forward, United aim to channel their current form as they head to the Women's FA Cup quarter-finals against Sunderland next weekend. Leicester, on the other hand, faces a tough climb to resuscitate their chances for the remainder of the season, now remaining without a victory for 13 consecutive away games. They will need to prepare quickly for another challenging match against Chelsea.
This match not only boosts Manchester United's title aspirations but also emphasizes their growing dominance within the WSL this season, providing fans with reasons to remain optimistic about their future engagements. Their effective performances are continuously turning heads, and with the determination to push for Premier League qualification, the Red Devils are proving they can compete with the very best.
Overall, United's recent success underlines their potential to secure continental competition for next season, and as the fixtures roll on, momentum will be key.