London City Lionesses beat Manchester United 2-1 in their opening Women's Super League fixture of the season on Friday, with Alanna Kennedy and Danielle van de Donk scoring for the hosts before Simi Awujo grabbed a stoppage-time consolation for the visitors.
Australian defender Kennedy put London City ahead in the ninth minute with a header at the back post from a corner. Van de Donk doubled the lead late on with a flick before Awujo scored with the last kick of the game.
The win capped a summer of major spending for London City Lionesses, who are backed by owner Michele Kang and are preparing for their second season in the top flight.
Alexia Putellas makes her bow
London City's recruitment this summer brought in former England goalkeeper Mary Earps and Spain defender Mapi Leon, but the marquee arrival was Alexia Putellas, a two-time Ballon d'Or winner with four Women's Champions League titles. Kang also owns French side Lyon and NWSL club Washington Spirit.
Putellas is the second most-followed women's footballer in the world on social media, behind only Alisha Lehmann, and her arrival is already paying off at the gate. Friday's match was a sell-out with 5,402 fans, the biggest home crowd in the club's history.
At 32, Putellas made it clear when she signed that the club's ambition and the challenge of a new league were key factors in leaving Barcelona, where she had spent the previous 14 years.
Her debut was low-key. She had just one shot, sent high over the bar to chants of "who are you" from the away end, and dropped deeper as the game went on to find space in a congested midfield.
Manager Eder Maestre said everyone knew the things that could be gained from having Putellas, not only what she was capable of doing but what she could facilitate, and that having this kind of player in the squad was important because she represented the high standards. He added that it was not only about Putellas, since she was only a player, and that the most impactful thing was the way the team played together and the chemistry they were building.
Manchester United's youth project stutters
Manchester United took a very different approach to the transfer window, prioritising youth. New arrivals included defender Andrea Medina, 22, Sweden winger Monica Jusu Bah, 23, and back-up goalkeeper Janina Leitzig, 27, alongside the more experienced Rebeca Bernal, 29. The club sold striker Melvine Malard to Chelsea for £850,000 and lost Leah Galton, Gabby George, Millie Turner and Lisa Naalsund.
Former manager Marc Skinner, who had repeatedly criticised a lack of investment in the women's team, stepped down last month after the window closed.
United struggled under new boss Eva Olid in the early stages, unable to cope with London City's high press and lacking composure at the two set pieces that led to their opponents' goals. They improved in the closing stages, with Awujo's late consolation reflecting growing belief.
Olid, a Spanish coach known for developing young players, called it a process. She said that in three weeks she had tried to show the team they could dominate with the ball and attack, and felt the issue was more mental, with players not believing they could keep possession in the first half. She said that at half time she told the players this was not who they were and that they needed the ball for themselves, and that the change was visible in the second half.
Mary Earps watches from the bench
Mary Earps' return to the WSL was one of the biggest storylines of the night. The 33-year-old left Manchester United, where she rose to prominence, for Paris Saint-Germain two seasons ago, retired from the England team on the eve of last summer's European Championship, and released an autobiography that reportedly upset some figures including England manager Sarina Wiegman.
Earps remains an icon in Manchester, where she helped the club into the top four and to its first FA Cup title in 2023, and a mural of her celebrating still stands near Old Trafford. She said before the game that it was "meant to be" that her WSL return would come against her former club.
She did not start, however. Maestre said this followed unspecified issues during her pre-season that limited her game time, and that her replacement, Elene Lete, deserved the start.
Record crowd, muted atmosphere
Despite assembling a squad of some of the best players in the world, London City's stadium in Bromley was far from raucous. Outside of the cheer for Putellas' name being read out and the celebration of Kennedy's goal, United's travelling support was the loudest presence for most of the night, even as their side trailed from the ninth minute and managed only one shot on target.
