Manchester United get their WSL campaign off to a winning start

Manchester United 4 - 0 Leicester City

Manchester United began their Women’s Super League campaign with an emphatic victory over Leicester.

Author | Olivia T

Stadium | Leigh Sports Village Stadium

This result and performance has given Marc Skinner's side the perfect build-up to Thursday's crucial Champions League qualifier against Norwegian side SK Brann.

A closer look at what happened

England international Ella Toone set the tone early on, firing home in the 13th minute. Leicester’s troubled build-up to the season, which saw coach Amandine Miquel dismissed and Ruby Mace depart for Everton in a club-record deal on deadline day, was laid bare against opponents already battle-hardened from European competition.

Interim manager Rick Passmoor could only watch as his side, widely tipped to struggle this season, were outclassed. Elisabeth Terland doubled United’s lead midway through the first half, nodding in Jayde Riviere’s cross, although Leicester goalkeeper Janina Leitzig might have done better at her near post.

READ MORE | How City started their WSL campaign with a defeat 

Leitzig redeemed herself with a string of fine saves to deny Toone, but was culpable again when she failed to deal with a Dominique Janssen delivery, allowing Melvine Malard to score United’s third. Malard, who impressed throughout, struck again late on with a powerful effort from distance to seal a comfortable win.

Important few weeks coming up for United 

On the basis that you can only defeat the team placed in front of you, United manager Marc Skinner will be content with a victory achieved without injury concerns and with midfielder Park, a deadline-day signing from Manchester City, handed more than half an hour to make a promising debut.

In the immediate term, the two-legged meeting with Brann carries far greater weight, offering the prize of progression to the Champions League league stage and six guaranteed fixtures against Europe’s elite.

That European test will be separated by a WSL visit to London City Lionesses, the top-flight newcomers whose arrival is unsettling the established order and providing United with a fresh challenge.