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Putellas debuts as Lions win
London City Lionesses opened the Women’s Super League season by beating Manchester United 2-1 in the curtain-raiser at Hayes Lane, with Alexia Putellas making her debut for the club.
“London City Lionesses started their star-studded era and the new Women's Super League season with a comfortable 2-1 win over Manchester United”
The scoring began in the ninth minute when Julia Zigiotti Olme headed the ball into her own net following a corner, and Danielle van de Donk doubled London City’s advantage in the 82nd minute with a flicked finish.
Manchester United struck with the final kick of the game as Simi Awujo sent the ball low into the bottom corner, but “there was no time left to attempt a comeback.”
London City’s star-studded squad was backed by owner Michele Kang, and the match drew a sell-out crowd at Hayes Lane as the club’s new era began.
Maestre and Olid react
After the win, London City head coach Eder Maestre told Sky Sports that “Starting with a win is very important to keep building confidence,” adding that he believed his side were “very dominant through the whole game.”
Manchester United coach Eva Olid, making her WSL debut less than a month after being hired, said “We were not us,” and described a first half where “Nothing that we have been working on was happening in the first half.”
The match also featured a late consolation for United as Awujo scored with virtually the last kick, while Sky Sports noted London City kept United at arm’s length “throughout the fixture.”
Sky Sports reported that Mary Earps and Kadidiatou Diani were unused on the bench, while Putellas, Mapi Leon, and Janni Thomsen were among the fresh faces included for London City.
Kang’s project and next steps
The opening-night result came after Kang’s summer spending spree, with London City bringing in two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and former England goalkeeper Mary Earps alongside Danielle van de Donk and Kadidiatou Diani.
“the largest in the women's game - and worth more than those of some Premier League sides”
Kang also framed the club’s commercial push as her Nike shirt sponsorship deal being “the largest in the women's game - and worth more than those of some Premier League sides,” as reported by The Straits Times.
The Straits Times described London City as a side that “underlined why many expect them to challenge the top of the Women's Super League this season,” while noting the club’s lead in the ninth minute and van de Donk’s 82nd-minute goal.
For United, Olid’s comments pointed to a need for improvement across “90 minutes,” with Sky Sports quoting her that “It’s not enough just 40 minutes trying to have the ball.”