Star-studded London City cruise to win over Man Utd

London City Lionesses Claim Dominant 2-1 Victory Over Manchester United

London City Lionesses kicked off their star‑studded campaign defensively, securing a comfortable 2‑1 victory over Manchester United. Two‑time Ballon d’Or laureate Alexia Putellas made her debut for the side, though the Spanish international drew a sell‑out crowd at Hayes Lane, ultimately conceding her only goal—a own goal from Julia Zigiotti that opened the scoring.

The midfielder found herself wrestling with Alanna Kennedy in the box before accidentally sending a header spiralling into the back of her own net to score the opening goal of the 2026/27 campaign. From the twenty‑fourth minute onward, London City claimed control of the fixture, maintaining a comfortable lead as it stretched into the twenty‑eight minute mark when Danielle van de Donk delivered a crisp flick that doubled the lead and sealed all three points for the hosts with under ten minutes remaining.

United substitute Simi Awaito managed to hide his late consolation effort having netted the only goal for the visitors with virtually the final kick of the match, highlighting the stark contrast in quality between the two sides given the depth available to London City.

Roster Highlights

New signings Rosa Kafaji, Mapi Leon, Putellas and Janni Thomsen impressed during the encounter, while Mary Earps and Kadidiatou Diani stood unused on the bench. Owner Michele Kang watched the energetic start from the stands.

The key moments from Hayes Lane…

9: GOAL! Zigiotti’s own goal gives London City the lead

49: SAVE! Kafaji forces a good save from Tullis‑Joyce with a long‑range strike

64: INJURY! Lucia Corrales goes off injured while clutching her shoulder

82: SUPERB! Van den Donk’s flick doubles London City’s lead to seal three points

90+10: CONSOLATION! Awaito grabs late goal with United’s sole attempt on target

Video Coverage

Julia Zigiotti scores an own goal to give London City Lionesses the lead over Manchester United in the opening game of the WSL.

Danielle van de Donk pulls off a superb flick to give London City Lionesses a 2‑0 lead against Manchester United.

Match Context & Outlook

The key moments from Hayes Lane…

Thirty‑nine seconds in the first half, Zigiotti’s blunder allowed City to seize control, and seven minutes later van de Donk’s elegant finish completed the work. United could only find inspiration in the dying game, as Awujo found the net with ample opportunity yet no other shots hit home.

Management Insight

Eder Maastre

“Starting with a win is very important to keep building confidence. ‘I think we were very dominant through the whole game. I really think we deserved this win. I hope this kind of result makes the difference in how we can keep playing in the next games we have.’ ‘That’s the identity we want – this is why I am very proud of the team.'”

Next Steps

With three points added, London City Lionesses look ahead to their upcoming fixtures. The performance hints at a promising trajectory as the team moves forward in the competition.

Player Ratings

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London City Lionesses kicked off their star‑studded campaign defensively, securing a comfortable 2‑1 victory over Manchester United. Two‑time Ballon d’Or laureate Alexia Putellas made her debut for the side, though the Spanish international drew a sell‑out crowd at Hayes Lane, ultimately conceding her only goal—a own goal from Julia Zigiotti that opened the scoring.

The midfielder found himself wrestling with Alanna Kennedy in the box before accidentally sending a header spiralling into the back of her own net to score the opening goal of the 2026/27 campaign. From the twenty‑fourth minute onward, London City claimed control of the fixture, maintaining a comfortable lead as it extended with Danielle van de Donk delivering a crisp flick that doubled the margin and sealed all three points for the hosts with under ten minutes remaining.

United substitute Simi Awaito attempted to salvage a point but managed to hide his late consolation effort having netted the only goal for the visitors with virtually the final kick of the match, underscoring the disparity in quality between the two sides given the depth available to London City.

Roster Highlights

New arrivals Rosa Kafaji, Mapi Leon, Putellas and Janni Thomsen impressed during the encounter, while Mary Earps and Kadidiatou Diani remained unused on the bench. Owner Michele Kang observed the energetic start from the stands.

The key moments from Hayes Lane…

9: GOAL! Zigiotti’s own goal gives London City the lead

49: SAVE! Kafaji forces a solid save from Tullis‑Joyce with a long‑range strike

64: INJURY! Lucia Corrales goes off injured while clutching her shoulder

82: SUPERB! Van den Donk’s flick doubles London City’s lead to seal three points

90+10: CONSOLATION! Awaito grabs late goal with United’s lone move on target

Match Recap Video Highlights

Julia Zigiotti scores an own goal to give London City Lionesses the lead over Manchester United in the opening game of the WSM.

Danielle van de Donk delivers a superb flick to enlarge London City’s lead to a 2‑0 scoreline versus Manchester United.

Team Report

Under manager Eder Maastre, the captaincy resonated: “Firing up with a win is crucial for building confidence. It feels we were dominantly controlling the proceedings throughout. We truly deserve this outcome; hopefully, this victory establishes our standard for future matches.” He concluded with pride in the squad’s identity, noting the importance of cohesive play and calculated risk‑taking.

Looking Ahead

Adding three points bolsters the Lions’ position heading into their subsequent fixtures. The result signals a rapid ascent in form and sets a strong tone for the remainder of the tournament.

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