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London City Lionesses 0, Leicester City 1.
- samwraight
- 20 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
Early blow sees London City fall to a narrow defeat in the Subway Women’s League Cup.
Sunday 19th October | CopperJax Community Stadium | Attendance: 990
Under overcast skies at the CopperJax Community Stadium, London City Lionesses fell to a narrow 1–0 defeat against Leicester City in the Subway Women’s League Cup.
An early strike from Jutta Rantala proved decisive, as the Leicestershire outfit held firm despite a late onslaught from the home side.
The Foxes took the lead inside the opening two minutes when Rantala fired a powerful effort into the roof of the net, giving Elene Lete no chance.
After that early setback, the opening 20 minutes were largely uneventful, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances. Freya Godfrey’s quick feet and sharp movement caused problems for the visitors, but London City couldn’t quite find the finishing touch.
Sanni Franssi came close midway through the half, swinging at a loose ball after Wassa Sangaré had recycled possession from a corner, but her effort hit the post.
At the other end, Rantala continued to threaten, testing Lete with a fierce strike in the 33rd minute. Moments later, Asmita Ale volleyed narrowly over the bar.
In the 42nd minute, María Pérez’s long-range strike whistled past the post shortly before half-time.
Rantala remained a handful after the restart, again coming close to doubling the Foxes’ lead in the 53rd minute with another strong effort which rose just too high.
However, Jocelyn Prêcheur’s side began to take control as the second half wore on.
The introduction of Jana Fernández at right-back injected energy and purpose, with her surging runs pinning Leicester deeper into their own half.
Freya Godfrey went close in the 57th minute, screwing her volley inches wide of Olivia Clark’s near post, before the Leicester keeper produced a fine stop to deny Katie Zelem’s curling shot on 63 minutes.
As the time ticked down, London City threw everything forward. The hosts were denied by a series of desperate blocks and last-ditch clearances as the Foxes clung onto their lead. Fernández was thwarted by Clark at point-blank range in the 89th minute before a dramatic passage in stoppage time saw Sanni Franssi’s deflected effort fall kindly to Nikita Parris, whose driven shot rolled agonisingly past the far post.
Fernández had one final chance deep into injury time, flinging herself at a loose ball in a crowded penalty area, only for Clark to once again come to Leicester’s rescue with a brave stop that preserved all three points for the East Midlands outfit.
After the match, Head Coach Jocelyn Prêcheur reflected on a game that, despite the result, provided valuable learning moments for his young side.
“It was an opportunity for us to see how our young players have improved. They needed this game exposure to face the reality of the WSL. It’s disappointing, but it makes sense, they’re young, they need time to develop and adapt. We’ll keep working with all of them; at the moment, the level is not enough.”
“We had many chances, I think we deserved to score. This lack of efficiency is something we’ve seen in the last few games, even when we’ve won. Scoring is the most difficult part. Many offensive players weren’t available today, which had an impact, but nobody gave up.”
Despite the frustration, the French coach praised his squad’s mentality and second-half response.
“It was tough, we were tired physically, but until the last second we ran and fought a lot, that’s the spirit I want for London City.
“If we fix this problem of efficiency and keep developing our young players, we’ll have a better and better squad. I was proud of everyone. We were too shy in the first half, but we responded well in the second, the game was completely different.
“The message is the same – keep working. We’ll rest a little, then go back and improve. Our evolution is positive, but it’s not enough if we want to reach the ambitions we have. We need to improve again and again, and I’m sure we will.”
London City now sit in third place in Group D of the Subway Women’s League Cup.
With several players now heading off for international duty, Jocelyn Prêcheur’s attention turns back to the Women’s Super League, starting with a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in November.
We are back at the CopperJax Community Stadium on the 9th November, as we take on Tottenham Hotspur.
You won’t want to miss it.
Teamsheet: Lete, Pérez, Godfrey, Franssi, Lindström (Parris 59’), Zelem (Marashi 84’), Brown (Fernández 45’), Imuran (Corrales 69’), Sangaré, Kennedy, Geyoro (Roddar 45’).