Ella Toone came off the bench to score a superb winner for Manchester United against Leicester City at King Power Stadium.
A fine performance from home goalkeeper Janina Leitzig had kept United at bay before Toone’s stunning long-range strike in the 83rd minute.
Victory means fourth-placed United are now three points above Liverpool in fifth, having played a game more.
Leicester remain 10th but are comfortably clear of relegation.
The visitors threatened throughout but Leitzig produced numerous saves to deny Geyse, Melvine Malard and Leah Galton before Toone’s moment of magic.
Leicester’s Yuka Momiki hit the post in the second half when she got on the end of Missy Goodwin’s rebounded strike, but her effort bounced back off the woodwork and spun away from team-mate Lena Petermann.
That was the hosts’ biggest opportunity but, although they only had one shot on target, they caused United’s defense problems in an encouraging display.
United’s victory ends a run of four away games without a win.
Toone’s moment of magic proves difference
United had won just one of their previous three WSL matches and knew failure to pick up points on Sunday would invite pressure from rivals Liverpool.
They have often underwhelmed this season but, even though they needed a moment of magic from Toone to break the deadlock, United did create enough chances throughout.
Geyse had the best of them when his powerful drive was steered behind by Leitzig in the first half and the Leicester goalkeeper’s outstretched leg blocked the Brazilian’s strike in the second half.
But Leicester, despite failing to record a shot on target until the 79th minute, were also dangerous.
Jutta Rantala’s dipping effort flew inches over the crossbar, Momiki’s low effort tested goalkeeper Mary Earps and Saori Takarada almost forced a save from the England number one.
But with the Women’s FA Cup final in May the main priority for United, this was job done in the league as they look to hold on to fourth, while Leicester can look to build for next season.
Line-ups
Leicester City Women
Training 4-1-4-1
1Leitzig
12Ale17Thibaud5Howardelevencayman
fifteenTakarada
8Rantala3Tierney29MomikitwentyGoodwin
9Petermann
- 1Leitzig
- 12Ale Substituted forbottat 68′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 17Thibaud
- 5Howard
- elevencayman
- fifteenTakarada Substituted forPelganderat 90+9′minutes
- 8Rantala
- 3Tierney
- 29Momiki
- twentyGoodwin Substituted forRoseat 68′minutes
- 9Petermann
Substitutes
- 2Nevin
- 4bott
- 6Palmer
- 7Rose
- 10Whelan
- 14Green
- 18Pelgander
- 19Siemsen
- 23kop
Man Utd Women
Training 4-2-3-1
27Earps
6Blundell4Le Tissiertwenty-oneTurnerfifteenEvans
elevenGalton10Zelem
23da Silva Ferreira16NaalsundtwentyMiyazawa
9Malard
- 27Earps
- 6Blundell
- 4Le Tissier
- twenty-oneTurner
- fifteenEvans
- elevenGalton
- 10Zelem
- 23da Silva Ferreira Substituted forParisat 62′minutes
- 16Naalsund Substituted forLaddat 87′minutes
- twentyMiyazawa Substituted forTooneat 73′minutes
- 9Malard Substituted forGarciaat 62′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Mannion
- 7Toone
- 8Warrior
- 12Ladd
- 17Garcia
- 22Paris
- 28Williams
- 36Aherne
- 91Tullis-Joyce
LiveText
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Match ends, Leicester City Women 0, Manchester United Women 1.
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Second Half ends, Leicester City Women 0, Manchester United Women 1.
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Catherine Bott (Leicester City Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Nikita Parris (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Deanne Rose (Leicester City Women).
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Offside, Leicester City Women. Lena Petermann is caught offside.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Sophie Howard (Leicester City Women).
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Attempt saved. Janice Cayman (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the top left corner.
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Substitution, Leicester City Women. Emilia Pelgander replaces Saori Takarada.
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Foul by Lucía García (Manchester United Women).
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Janice Cayman (Leicester City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Millie Turner (Manchester United Women).
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Lena Petermann (Leicester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Catherine Bott (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the center of the goal.
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Attempt saved. Saori Takarada (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the center of the goal.
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Corner, Leicester City Women. Granted by Maya Le Tissier.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Gemma Evans (Manchester United Women).
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Attempt blocked. Lucía García (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nikita Parris.
