Elisabeth Terland and Celin Bizet were on target as Manchester United maintained their unbeaten start to the Women's Super League season.
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Leicester miss golden first half opportunityTerland powers a header on stroke of half timeBizet doubles United's lead after defensive errorFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportTELL ME MORE
Manchester United headed into the game against Leicester knowing they needed to win to keep the pressure on Arsenal and Brighton. Both won their respective games on Saturday, and respectively sat three and four points ahead of the Red Devils when they kicked off against Leicester.
In a lacklustre start, both sides struggled for fluency, and few opportunities presented themselves for either side, with Grace Clinton's mis-directed diving header the best chance of the opening half an hour.
While United dominated the ball, Leicester posed a sporadic threat on the counter attack, and in the 38th minute, should have taken the lead, after a deflected Yuka Momiki attempt fell to Hannah Cain six yards out, but the winger could only scuff the attempt wide.
On the stroke of half-time, United punished Leicester's wastefulness, as Geyse Ferreira clipped a lovely cross into Terland, and the Norwegian striker directed the header beautifully into the corner. Terland almost doubled her tally with an overhead kick early in the second half, but could only watch as the ball dropped wide.
The second period played out as an uneventful affair, as United controlled the ball, content with their one-goal lead, while Leicester harried and chased them to no avail. In the 80th minute, United made sure of the three points, as Catherine Bott miscued a back pass following a Millie Turner long ball. Celin Bizet latched onto it, and coolly rolled the ball into the corner.
It was a far from clinical performance from United, who on multiple occasions looked like they would hand Leicester a route back into the game, but two moments of clear thinking were enough to get them over the line.
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Manchester United are undefeated in the league so far this season, winning four and drawing three.
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While she couldn't get her name on the scoresheet, Geyse Ferreira was a constant thorn in the left side of the Leicester defence. The Brazilian's tricky feet and rapid turn of pace repeatedly turned Courtney Nevin inside out, and her assist for Terland was the contribution her performance deserved.
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While she was the player on the end of Leicester's two best chances, Hannah Cain couldn't keep a cool head, and in missing them prevented her team from having a chance of taking a result away from the King Power. The first an effort from the edge of the box that curled high and wide after a swift counter-attack; a forgivable miss.
But the second looked set to be a guaranteed goal, and only the Welsh winger will know how she somehow prodded the ball wide. She will be having nightmares of that missed opportunity tonight.