New Season, Same Success: United’s Women’s Team Off to a Flying Start

Manchester United’s women’s team kicked off their Women’s Super League campaign in style, defeating Leicester 4-0 in a dominant display at Leigh Sports Village. The win marked a perfect beginning to the season for Marc Skinner’s side, who will now focus on their crucial Champions League qualifier against SK Brann on Thursday.

Ella Toone, the Manchester United women’s team’s star player, opened the scoring in the 13th minute, driving home a goal that set the tone for the rest of the match. The 23-year-old midfielder, who has been a key player for the team, has already made a name for herself in the women’s football world, having represented England’s national team in several international competitions.

Elisabeth Terland, the Norwegian striker, doubled the lead with a 25th-minute header, adding to her impressive tally of four European goals in the victories against PSV Eindhoven and Hammarby. The 24-year-old striker has been in top form for Manchester United, and her goal against Leicester was a testament to her skills and determination. Terland’s goal was set up by Jayde Riviere’s deep cross, which left Leicester’s goalkeeper Janina Leitzig with little chance of making a save.

Leicester’s defense was further exposed when Melvine Malard turned home United’s third goal 17 minutes from time, with the French forward adding another near the end to give the score a deserved one-sided look. Malard’s intelligent running inside from the left wing proved too much for Leicester, who had no answer to the former Lyon star’s performance. The 21-year-old forward has been a key player for Manchester United, and her goalscoring prowess has been a major factor in the team’s success.

Despite the convincing win, Manchester United’s squad depth remains a concern, with manager Marc Skinner admitting that the team needs to do work in the winter transfer window to strengthen their squad. The club found themselves being quoted £400,000 for players they felt had previously been available for significantly less, highlighting the challenges they face in an increasingly competitive environment. Skinner has said that the team needs to “work smarter” to maximize the investment they have, but acknowledged that the club may struggle to keep up with the bigger spending clubs in the league.

Manchester United will now focus on their Champions League qualifier against SK Brann, with the first leg taking place on Thursday, 11 September. The match will be a crucial test for the team, as they look to secure a place in the league phase of the Champions League. The team will then travel to London City Lionesses on Sunday, 14 September, in their next WSL game. Leicester, on the other hand, will entertain Liverpool at the King Power Stadium on the same day.