London City Lionesses Beat Manchester United 2-1 in WSL Opener

Former Barcelona skipper Alexia Putellas celebrated her first win at the Women’s Super League as London City Lionesses beat Manchester United 2-1 at the Copperjax Community Stadium. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s new boss Eva Olid did not have a jubilant start to the English Women’s top flight after the hosts dominated the first half of the break but eventually failed to score a goal before the break.

United fell behind the game after Julia Zigiotti’s own goal in the ninth minute from a London City corner and they nearly conceded another goal just before the half-time whistle before Danielle van de Donk doubled the hosts in the 82^nd minute.

London City who signed the two-time Ballon d’Or Winner Putellas during the summer, made history before a ball was kicked in Bromley when Eder Maestre named the first WSL opening day starting line-up without a single English player.

Initially, the opening from the London City Lionesses seemed like it was scored by Alanna Kennedey before it was confirmed that Zigiotti had in fact nodded the ball to the United keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce. The United keeper made a brilliant save later in the game to deny Kennedy in the second-half and another from a Rosa Kafaji effort.

The sight of Lucia Corrales being carried away from the pitch on a stretcher just after the hour mark was the only negative of the game, which was otherwise an excellent evening for London City. For City, Awujo halved the deficit in the 10th minute of the stoppage time and it was the only short on target, which was teed up by the impressive Delphine Cascarino.