Shaw and Kelly on target in deserved City win at Leicester

Shaw bagged her 10th WSL goal, her 17th in all competitions – and her fifth goal in three games – as she produced an angled header on 61 minutes from a Laura Coombs cross from the right to beat the in-form Foxes goalkeeper Janina Leitzig.

Leitzig had no chance on 74 minutes as Kelly fired home a wonder strike, ensuring back-to-back goals from the Lionesses ace.

The victory moved us third in the WSL – for one day at least – as we moved ahead of Arsenal and behind Chelsea in second and Man Utd on top.

What happened

It says a lot about the first half that the standout player was Foxes goalkeeper Janina Leitzig, who kept an attack-minded City team at bay for the opening period.

The first chance fell to Chloe Kelly on two minutes when the winger broke free down the right flank before cutting inside and seeing a goalbound shot stopped by Leitzig.

Ellie Roebuck produced a good save on five minutes from the best chance of the half for the hosts.

Aileen Whelan fired in a fine cross from the right which found Hannah Cain perfectly but Roebuck was in the right place to parry clear.

From that moment on, for the rest of the first half and indeed most of the second too, City dominated both possession and chances, with Lauren Hemp, Deyna Castellanos and Bunny Shaw heavily involved.

Hemp’s shot on six minutes, from the left side of the box, was well saved by Leitzig, who was on hand four minutes later to keep out Shaw’s shot, which was teed up by Hemp on the left.

Castellanos ballooned a shot over from close-range when well-placed on 13 minutes after the ball came to her from a Hemp shot that was palmed into her path.

Leitzig’s best save came on 15 minutes as Shaw was threaded in by Filippa Angeldahl, who made a strong run down the middle, but the forward’s final effort was kept out by the agile Foxes stopper.

Another effort from Hemp, from the left channel, was kept out on 19 minutes and, moments later, Castellano’s flash volley flew wide after a fine ball in from the right by Kerstin Casparij.

Shaw, a constant, direct menace throughout the opening period, bustled her way into the box on 39 minutes only to be crowded out by a resilient Leicester backline.

Castellano didn’t realise how much time she had at the back post in first half injury time as she skewed her shot wide.

It was a fast start to the second half for Gareth Taylor’s team as we could and perhaps should have opened the scoring.

Kelly whipped it in on 46 minutes, goalkeeper Leitzig parried it out but Hemp couldn’t finish as the ball got away from her.

It was another fine save by Leitzig as she produced a reaction stop to keep out an angled Shaw header on 50 minutes.

It was more relentless attacking endeavour from City on 55 minutes – and more heroics from the Leicester goalkeeper – as Hemp was kept out by another impressive, reactive save from a shot via the left channel.

Shaw flung herself at a Hemp cross from the left on 58 minutes but the ball flew just wide.

The deadlock was finally broken on 61 minutes as Shaw headed home a cross from the right by substitute Laura Coombs.

It should have been 2-0 on 68 minutes as Shaw met a Hemp cross from the left but she saw her finish fly over the bar.

We finally did double our advantage on 74 minutes – and what a goal it was!

Kelly, a constant menace, fired in a wonder strike that gave Leitzig absolutely no chance in the Foxes goal.

Coombs was close to making it three on 83 minutes but her powerful short was angled clear by the busy Foxes stopper.

Cain nearly pulled a goal back as she drove forward in the fifth minute of added time but Roebuck was equal to it as she parried clear.

That was the final chance as City notched up a professional three points to move second in the WSL.

How we lined up

Ellie Roebuck started between the sticks, shielded by a back four of Kerstin Casparij, Alex Greenwood, Steph Houghton and Laia Aleixandri.

Yui Hasegawa, Filippa Angeldahl and Deyna Castellanos made up the midfield three, while Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp started on the flank.

Bunny Shaw led the line as centre-forward at the King Power Stadium.

City: Roebuck, Casparij, Houghton (C), Greenwood (Ouhabi 84’), Aleixandri, Hasegawa, Angeldahl, Castellanos (Coombs 46’), Kelly (Raso 78’), Shaw (Fowler 78’), Hemp (Blakstad 84’)

Unused sub: MacIver

Player of the Match: Lauren Hemp

Lauren Hemp did everything but score in a dynamic display against Leicester at the King Power Stadium.

City were on the attack for most of the 90 minutes and Hemp was the fulcrum for the visitors as she produced pace and grace down the left flank.

It was a performance that warranted a goal but team player Hemp won’t give it a moment’s thought as the key fact is the side earned a deserved 2-0 win over the Foxes.

Gareth Taylor, reacting to her performance in his post-match press conference, said: “She brings a lot. She’s great to work with, she’s full of energy and it’s not nice for any of the fullbacks to play against her.”

What it means

Today’s victory sees up leapfrog Arsenal and move into third in the WSL.

We are now on 26 points from 12 games behind Chelsea (28/11) in second and Manchester United (28/11) at the summit.

They both play on Sunday – United hosting Everton and Chelsea travelling to Tottenham.

The Gunners (25/10), now in fourth, would move back up into third should they see off West Ham United on Sunday at Victoria Road.

Up next

It’s an exciting encounter next up for City as we travel to Arsenal for the semi-finals of the Continental Cup.

Gareth Taylor‘s side travel down to Meadow Park on Wednesday 8 February, with the match set to get under way at 19:15 (UK).

We have won all five games played so far in this season’s competition, scoring 18 goals while conceding none.

The Gunners beat Aston Villa 3-0 to book their spot in the last four, while we saw off Bristol City 6-0 in the quarter-finals.