Manchester United Women kicked off their season with a disappointing 2-1 loss to London City Lionesses, marking a challenging start for the team in the Women’s Super League (WSL). The defeat underscores the need for improvement as they prepare for upcoming matches.
The match began poorly for United, who found themselves behind just nine minutes into the game. A corner taken by Janni Thomsen was inadvertently turned into the net by Julia Zigiotti, giving the Lionesses an early lead. This early setback set the tone for the first half, as United struggled to find their rhythm.
Shortly after the opening goal, London City came close to doubling their advantage when Rosa Kafaji nearly scored, but a quick intervention from Jayde Riviere prevented further damage. United’s defense faced additional pressure as Lucia Corrales had two opportunities to extend the lead, but her efforts went astray. One shot flashed across the goal, while another header failed to find the target, leaving United fortunate to remain just one goal down.
As the first half progressed, it became evident that United were second best against a well-organized London City side. The team’s inability to create significant chances compounded their woes, leaving them to regroup during the halftime break.
The second half saw little improvement for United, as goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce was called into action early, making two crucial saves to keep her team in the game. In an attempt to shift momentum, manager Marc Skinner introduced Monica Jusu Bah, who quickly set up Jess Park for a chance. Unfortunately for United, Park’s shot went wide, further frustrating their efforts to equalize.
United’s attempts to find the back of the net continued, with Simi Awujo threatening with a looping header from a free kick that landed harmlessly on top of the net. Despite their late attempts to push for an equalizer, it was London City who struck next. Danielle Van de Donk managed to glance a header off the post into the goal, extending the Lionesses’ lead and effectively sealing the match.
United did manage to score in the dying moments of the game, with Awujo netting her first WSL goal in the 100th minute after a free kick from Ella Toone deflected into her path. However, this late goal proved to be too little, too late for the team, who will need to quickly regroup and focus on their next challenge.
Looking ahead, Manchester United Women will face a tough opponent in Chelsea on Sunday, September 13th, at 12:00 BST. The team will aim to bounce back from this defeat and improve their performance as they navigate the early stages of the WSL season.
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