Foxes Win Third-Place Play-Off Against West Ham
A stunning performance from in Western Australia rounded off a respectable display in the inaugural Perth-based competition; Yuka Momiki, Sam Tierney, Missy Goodwin, Noémie Mouchon and Saori Takarada the goalscorers on a eventful Sunday afternoon.
After a slow opening five minutes in which both sides looked to settle into the game, the first chance fell to Leicester, after Jutta Rantala expertly beat her defender before whipping a cross into the box. Goodwin was at the back post but a tame effort was collected by Kinga Szemik.
This chance gave City confidence who pushed on to break the deadlock five minutes later; Mouchon winning the ball high up the pitch, the French forward used her strength to drive into the box before unselfishly squaring it to Momiki, who was cool and calm to take a touch and find the bottom corner.
Not long after, impressive goalkeeping kept the Foxes from taking a two-goal lead after great play in the box led to consecutive chances for Mouchon and Momiki, but Szemik performed well to keep her side in the game.
Breathing space in the third-place play-off was gained after the half-hour mark when Tierney was clinical from close range. Goodwin this time the provider, causing havoc for the West Ham defender before laying into the path of the No.3 who made no mistake.
With minutes to go of the first half, City gained even further distance on their counterparts, scoring a third goal through Goodwin, who turned goalscorer when she was fed through on goal by Momiki and found the bottom corner, rounding off a great half of football in Perth.
The rampant Foxes continued their same persistence in the second half and scored a fourth before the game was an hour in when Mouchon beat the high line from West Ham, ran in on goal and sent the ball towards the bottom right-hand corner, out of the goalkeeper's reach.
One of the biggest cheers, aside from the goals, came when the City bench made a double change, introducing CJ Bott and Australian international Courtney Nevin into the fold.
After this, things just kept on getting better for the Foxes who scored a fifth, putting the game well out of reach, when Takarada sent in an audacious chip which beat the 'keeper, striking the crossbar before bouncing over the line; Janice Cayman nodding it just in case.
There was a late surge from West Ham when Vivianne Asseyi netted a brace against a tiring Leicester, with a neat finish and a header, but it couldn't do anything to change the eventual outcome of the game, as City took third place to round off the Australia trip.
Leicester now head home as they continue to build up to their fourth consecutive Barclays Women's Super League campaign, facing Liverpool away on Sunday 22 September (2pm BST kick-off).