Leicester City 1-0 Everton
by Tom Coopey at The King Power Stadium for Impetus (9/10/23).
Above: Celebratory scenes after Leitzig saved a penalty to help Leicester grab the win Photo: Barclays WSL.
A well-fought win from Leicester City over Everton saw them grab the three points and retain their position at the top of the WSL.
It was another brilliant performance from Willie Kirk’s team which ensured they have recorded two consecutive wins to start the season off. Everton’s disappointing start continued, being sat just one place off the bottom on goal difference.
Kirk made two changes to his winning side who beat Bristol City, with Jutta Rantala rewarded with her ‘super-sub’ appearance as well as Josie Green earning a start. Julie Thibaud and Aimee Palmer made way for the pair. The Toffees were looking to hit back after their defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion, with Justine Vanhaevermaet, Heather Payne, and Emma Bissell all coming into the starting 11.
It was a lively start at the King Power Stadium, with both teams hungry to find that all-important goal. An early opportunity arose for Martina Piemonte, finding room on the edge of the box. A vicious strike by the Italian was pushed away well by Leicester goalkeeper Janina Leitzig for a corner. Down the other end, Lena Peterman had a brilliant chance. She caught Emily Ramsey off guard, but couldn’t compose herself to find the back of the net.
Missy Goodwin had consecutive glorious chances, one linking up with Shannon O’Brien and the other pouncing on an error at the back. After 15 minutes, Leicester were beginning to find their rhythm and were knocking on the door.
Everton were starting to settle into the game more, weathering the storm of the Leicester pressure. The Foxes were still looking to find the opener, but Everton’s organised defence said otherwise. The ball was in the back of the Leicester net, after Emma Bissell’s tidy finish, but the flag was up.
The visitors grew into the game towards the end of the first period. Both teams were just lacking that cutting-edge in the final third. There was late drama at the end of the half, with a penalty awarded in stoppage time to the Toffees after Aileen Whelan committed a foul in the box. Justine Vanhaevermaet stepped up, looking for her first goal in an Everton shirt, but a sensational double stop by Leitzig kept the score level. The German summer signing made a brilliant dive to her right to deny the first attempt, before reacting quickly to the second effort.
It was a close encounter for the first 45 minutes, with Leitzig the hero of the hour. After a stressful start for the visitors, they began to settle into the game. Neither side were able to break the deadlock, however, with the score goalless at the break.
An early opportunity opened up for Josie Green, with her effort from outside the box whistling just wide. A fast start from Everton saw Piemonte slip Bissell through, with the Bristol City loanee denied by Leitzig from close range.
Piemonte had a wonderful chance to open the scoring and should have done. Hanna Bennison’s dinked ball to the back post found the 29-year-old, with her chested touch teeing her up for the volley, which dribbled just wide.
Willie Kirk made his first move of the afternoon, as Hannah Cain came in for Shannon O’Brien with half an hour remaining. Chances were happening at both ends of the pitch, but being clinical was a problem for the sides.
The deadlock was finally broken, as Lena Petermann found her second of the season to put the Foxes ahead. An astonishing weighted ball from Sam Tierney cut the Everton defence open, with Lena Petermann running in behind before a calm finish made it 1-0.
A double change from Kirk saw summer signings, Deanne Rose and Julie Thibaud come on to replace goalscorer, Petermann, and Australian international Courtney Nevin. Meanwhile, the Toffees also made a double change to try and improve their fortunes. Galii and Piemonte made way for Karoline Olesen and Nicoline Sorensen.
Josie Green finished her match with 77 minutes played, with CJ Bott introduced. Leicester were holding their own, attempting to seek out their second three points of the season. Everton thought they’d found the equalising goal, with a deflected cross eventually bundled into the back of the net, only to be denied by the flag.
Brian Sorensen had a last throw off the dice, making a triple substitution, in bid of finding a late leveller. With 8 minutes added on, Everton had their tails up to find a goal, whilst added time would feel like an age for the Foxes.
Rantala nearly wrapped the win up for the home side, with her ambitious effort sailing just over the bar. There were cheers and relief around the King Power as the full-time whilst blew, seeing Leicester edge Everton to a big win.
Teams: LEICESTER CITY: Leitzig, Nevin, Tierney, Howardm Rantala, Petermann, Whelan, Cayman, Green, Goodwin, O’Brien. Substitutes used: Cain (for O’Brien 63’), Rose (for Petermann 70’), Thibaud (for Nevin 70’), Bott (for Green 78’)
Scorers: Petermann 69’.
EVERTON: Ramsey, Veje, Bjorn, Vanhaevermaet, Bennison, Bissell, Hope, Piemonte, Payne, Finnigan, Galli. Substitutes used: Sorensen (for Piemonte 74’), Olseon (for Galli 74’), Campbell (for Vanhaevermaet 88’), Duggan (for Bissell 88’), Wheeler (for Hope 88’).
Referee: Stacey Fullicks.
Attendance: TBC.
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