London City Lionesses 1-5 Manchester United: Dominant United provide another reality check for Lionesses

In their first home game in England’s top tier, London City Lionesses faced a dominant Manchester United side reeling from loss in Europe. The Red Devils delivered an emphatic response, giving the newly promoted Lionesses a reality check: spending big in the transfer window doesn’t instantly make a team.

For United, it was the second consecutive league victory by a four-goal margin – something they only managed twice throughout the entire 2024-25 season.

For many underdogs facing a strong team, the adage is “just don’t concede early”. This may have been the mantra the Lionesses were using ahead of the game, but in this case, it did not come true. Spain’s Jana Fernández fouled Melvine Malard in the box during United’s first foray forward, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Maya Le Tissier converted, and London City were behind within three minutes.

Playing their first WSL match in front of a home crowd, the hosts responded well, posing their biggest threat to United from set pieces. For every corner, United struggled to clear the ball, and Phallon Tullis-Joyce was forced into a number of saves from close range.

While defensively suspect, the visitors were in fine form going forward: right-back Jayde Riviere added United’s second before half-time, smashing the ball into the top corner of the net from a seemingly impossible angle.

After the break, United kept up the momentum as Malard controversially added a third within minutes, with the Lionesses protesting for offside. She struck again shortly after, scoring her fourth goal in two games and sealing a hat-trick on the day.

Nikita Parris got one back for the hosts against her former side, slotting in from close range. However, the comeback was not to be as United attacked again, resulting in Jess Park scoring a long-range curler that left the London City goalkeeper Elene Lete at sixes and sevens.

The main concern for United will be the injury to Millie Turner, who was stretchered off in the second half. United are already thin on the ground in terms of squad depth, and Turner’s injury comes off the back of her sustaining a fractured foot during May’s FA Cup final.

For the Lionesses, the bleak reading of nine goals conceded in two games needs cadence: the club have a host of new signings who need time to build a relationship, and they started their first WSL campaign against two of last season’s top three. With time and a friendlier run of games, the picture may not look so bleak in a few weeks time.

LCL: Lete; Fernández, Kennedy, Kumagai, Imuran; Zelem, Roddar; Corrales, Asllani, Parris; Goodwin

MUN: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, Sandberg; Zigiotti, Miyazawa; Park, Toone, Bizet Dønnum; Malard