With Lauren Smith’s Bristol City desperately in need of points to avoid a seemingly impending return to the Barclays Women’s Championship, the Robins ventured to Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
LEI: Kop; Cayman, Thibaud, Green, Bott; Tierney, Takarada, Momiki; Whelan, O’Brien, Rantala
BCI: Yañez; Layzell, Struck, Connolly, Aspin, Powell; Napier, Jones, Rodgers, Whelan; Thestrup
Against a desperate Robins side, Willie Kirk’s Leicester City looked to be the dominant force from the very start of Sunday’s league clash on the banks of the River Soar – but they found themselves trailing against the run of play after twenty minutes as Ffion Morgan capitalised on a poor Lize Kop clearance to chip the goalkeeper.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut less than fifteen minutes later, Yuka Momiki had restored parity with a chipped finish of her own – this time launching the ball over Shae Yañez from a tight angle to bring the Foxes level on home turf.
By the time the two sides headed down the tunnel for half-time, Willie Kirk’s side had completed their impressive first-half comeback. Saori Takarada slammed home in injury time, taking full advantage of a half-hearted clearance from Aileen Whelan’s initial effort.
Bristol City emerged from the break as a rejuvenated side though, and forward Amalie Thestrup brought the Robins level after four second-half minutes with a low strike into the bottom corner.
They’d remain level for just five minutes though, before Janice Cayman latched onto a Sam Tierney ball to fire past Yañez and restore Leicester City’s lead.
Jutta Rantala netted an impressive finish with a quarter-hour remaining, curling a stunning effort into the top corner before teeing up 16-year-old Denny Draper for her first senior Foxes goal in the 89th minute.
Embed from Getty ImagesA tenth defeat of the Barclays Women’s Super League season sees Bristol City remain five points from provisional safety, and their trip to 11th-placed Brighton on March 3 now carries added significance for both teams.
As for Leicester City, they now sit seventh in the Barclays Women’s Super League and trail sixth-placed Tottenham by three points. Willie Kirk’s Foxes face Chelsea after the upcoming international break.