Fantastic Foxes join
LEICESTER CITY BEAT LONDON CITY TO CLINCH CHAMPIONSHIP AND WIN PROMOTION TO WSL
LEICESTER City clinched the FA Women’s Championship title following a hard-fought 2-0 win over London City Lionesses on Easter Sunday, writes Peter Trifunovic of Sportsbeat.
The Foxes’ 12th straight league win came courtesy of goals from Sam Tierney and Natasha Flint after Charlie Devlin saw her penalty saved early on.
City now have an unassailable lead at the summit and will play in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League for the first time in their history next season.
Knowing the title was within touching distance, Leicester started on top and had the opening chance in a tight first half as Devlin fired wide inside 10 minutes. Lionesses’ midfielder Flo Fyfe then fizzed an effort narrowly wide after some neat play from Lily Agg.
The Foxes were awarded a penalty on 33 minutes after visiting goalkeeper Shae Yanez was adjudged to have punched Tierney whilst attempting to clear a corner.
But Yanez instantly regained her focus and made a fine save to deny Devlin from 12 yards.
Shortly after the restart, Lachante Paul managed to break into the box and square the ball to Shannon O’Brien but London City’s captain Hayley Bennett blocked the shot.
The Foxes found the breakthrough they needed on 68 minutes after a sustained spell of pressure.
A free-kick routine straight off the training ground saw Tierney fire a rebound into the bottom corner after her first attempt was blocked.
With 15 minutes to play, substitute Flint netted her 16th goal of the season to double Leicester’s lead and settle the outcome.
Esmee De Graaf’s cross found Flint, who controlled the ball with her knee before volleying home from close range.
Juliette Kemppi struck a longrange effort that tested Kirstie Levell on 80 minutes, but the hosts’ lead never seemed under threat and their celebrations could begin when the final whistle sounded.
Leicester City manager Jonathan Morgan said: “It’s been a long journey for me and the club to get to the FA Women’s Super League, to test ourselves against the best teams in the country and – in the case of some of them – in the world.
“To be fair to London City, happy that another one has they stopped our game plan in come off. the first half and did really “We knew that when we well. brought Natasha
“In the second (Flint) on, it was half, our quality more about timing came through it when and we they were pushed our tired. full-backs “That’s 16 high which goals this stopped their season now outlets and (for her). their counter. Hopefully she
“The girls can push on improvised a little and get that bit, which was golden boot.” good. London City Lionesses
“Recently we’ve started to do a manager Melissa Phillips said: lot more on set-plays and we’ve “Games are won and lost over started to score a few, so I’m just small details, so I don’t think the penalty had any deciding factor in how the game went, but it’s great that Shae (Yanez) can come up with a huge save and I’m proud with the way my team competed.
“I thought we organised well, we made it tough for them and became incredibly difficult to break down.
“Ultimately, they scored on the second phase of a set-piece and then they scored a brilliant goal for their second, so I commend them for their performance.”
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It’s been a long journey to get to the WSL and test ourselves against the best teams LCFC manager Jonathan Morgan