After a chastening loss against fellow non-goalscorers West Ham in our last game, Leicester City Women were set to play Arsenal, but that match was mercilessly moved due to the Mega Champion International Turbo Cup that was arranged unfathomably late.
In the end, it was a 2-0 loss against Manchester United, but some dodgy refereeing and a few decent individual performances left us feeling a little cheated. Noemie Mouchon and Alisha Lehmann both looked to be causing United trouble and were unlucky to come away without a goal between them. United’s first goal was the result of a fantastic cross, and their second was a gift from a shaky Leicester defence. There were a few great saves from Olivia Clark as well, showing she’s an able deputy to Janina Leitzig, but not quite overtaking her yet.
With one goal in our last 5 games (all losses), the idea of holding on and hoping to grab a 1-0 win doesn’t really look like that sensible a plan right now. The Passmore Catenaccio Experience is possibly dead, and it seems like we’re going to try and score! If you’re going to lose 3-0 whilst parking the bus, you might as well try and score and lose 4-1.
Leitzig is still out, not even with a place on the bench, which is worrying. Olivia Clark was a little shaky against West Ham, but any keeper who is replacing Leitzig isn’t likely to be an improvement. She’s so important to this team and getting her back would be a huge boost. There was also a start for Alisha Lehmann.
We were still defending tightly, by packing the middle of the box, but it seemed we were leaving a few more up than usual. United came out of the traps quickly and used the space we left on the wing to fire in some nice crosses. Melvine Malard looked good down the left, and it was her cross that resulted in their first goal from Julia Zigiotti Olme, breaking into the box from midfield.
United were absolutely dominant in terms of possession; they closed the first half with 68% of the ball. We did our usual stout defending act, but when we got the ball back, we actually had some attackers to lump the ball long to. Rachel Williams made good use of the ball when she had it and held it up well. Lehmann made a few driving runs into the box from the left and looked a genuine danger. It does appear we’re starting to put together some sort of cohesive attacking idea to go alongside our defensive acumen.
For what felt like the 50th time this season, we went in 1-0 down at half time, and it still felt like we were somewhat in the game. We got forward well from the kick off, and we even saw a few passes inside United’s box, with some blocked shots. We seemed to be pressing higher up the pitch than earlier in the season. Proper, organised pressing, where it looked like we were closing down the player and the next available pass.
Our back line was pushed up so relatively high that we saw United get in behind us a few times, something we haven’t seen that often. We usually concede from a cross or a big shot from outside the box, but our higher press was giving some space in behind. Asmita Ale, playing at centre back, was able to use her pace to sweep up well. Ale made a fantastic tackle on Jess Park, who was running into the box with real menace. Ale stood her up and timed the tackle perfectly inside the box. A less composed defender would have conceded a penalty, but she’s been growing into her new role in the middle of defence well.
Mouchon and Shannon O’Brien came on for Hannah Cain and Williams around the 60th minute. At the start of this season, our attacking options were far weaker, so we usually didn’t see a substitution until the 80th minute, and it would be a less experienced player like the now loaned out Hlin Eiriksdottir. The substitution nearly paid off instantly when O’Brien got into the box and was barged off the ball inside the box. This absolutely was a penalty and VAR would have agreed, but if we want to open that Pandora’s box in the WSL is something that needs serious consideration.
Mouchon looked lively, and one of her driving runs into the box for the right-hand side resulted in a thunderous shot that was well saved. With Lehmann and Mouchon up front and some fresh legs behind to get the ball into them, it felt like an equaliser was on the cards, but so was that second United goal.
Clark pulled off a Leitzig-esque save after a great shot from United substitute Simi Awujo. Awujo controlled the ball into the box perfectly and managed to get it out of her feet for what would have been a brilliant goal. With ten minutes left, the game was very much alive. We went into this game with a notably different attitude to normal, and we were there at 80 minutes, 1-0 like usual, but we looked like we could actually score a goal.
With 3 minutes remaining, Elizabeth Terland, who has scored in her last 5 games against Leicester, pounced on a loose ball from the Leicester defence and, despite Ale and Chantelle Swaby’s best efforts, she slotted it in past Clark. It felt like the game wasn’t going to finish 1-0, but that extra goal went the wrong way. I don’t tend to get hung up on refereeing decisions, but the fact that we were denied an obvious penalty that would likely have brought us to 1-1 at a pivotal moment, you can’t help but feel robbed by this result.
In a season almost devoid of jeopardy, we are 2 points above Liverpool in last place. We are set to play Liverpool on the 15th March in what will surely be a relegation 6-pointer. Whoever finishes last will go into a playoff against the 3rd place WSL 2 side. With the gulf between the top two leagues in the women’s game, this is potentially a winnable game for one of Leicester, West Ham or Liverpool, but I wouldn’t like to bet on it.
The Fosse Way 