London City Lionesses started their star-studded era and the new season with a comfortable 2-1 win over Manchester United.
Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas made her debut for the club but despite the Spain international drawing a sell-out crowd at Hayes Lane, it was an own goal from Julia Zigiotti that opened the scoring.
The midfielder wrestled with Alanna Kennedy in the box before inadvertently guiding a header into the back of her own net to score the first goal of the 2026/27 campaign.
London City cruised into control of the fixture from there on, keeping United at arm’s length throughout, before a moment of magic from Danielle van de Donk with a neat flick doubled the lead and sealed all three points for the hosts with under 10 minutes to go.
United substitute Simi Awujo tucked away a late consolation goal with virtually the last kick of the game and their only shot on target, highlighting the chasm in standards between the two sides with the talent London City now have at their disposal.
Rosa Kafaji, Mapi Leon, Putellas and Janni Thomsen were the fresh faces included and impressed – while Mary Earps and Kadidiatou Diani were unused on the bench – as an exciting new era got off to the perfect start while owner Michele Kang watched 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 shot
64: INJURY! LuciaCorrales goes off injured while clutching shoulder
82: SUPERB! Van den Donk’s flick doubles London City’s lead to seal three points
90+10: CONSOLATION! Awujo grabs late goal with United’s only shot on target
WATCH: All the goals from Hayes Lane!
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Maestre: We were very dominant
London City Lionesses boss Eder Maestre:
“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 the way we can keep playing in the next games we have.
“That’s the identity we want – that’s why I’m very proud of the team.
“Sometimes you need to take some risks to play in that way. The team played with the togetherness that I think are going to be the most important value to respect.
“I think we are one step closer to hitting the targets. I’m very excited and very happy.”
‘We were not us,’ says Olid
Manchester United boss Eva Olid:
“I think none of us are happy with the first half. We were not us.
“Nothing that we have been working on was happening in the first half.
“In the half-time, it was me saying to them, this is not us, we need to have confidence, belief, show we want the ball, that has to be us.
“There was a change in the second half but at the end but I said at the end that needs to be 90 minutes. It’s not enough just 40 minutes trying to have the ball.”
