Foxes Secure First WSL Win Of The Season
The No.29 found the net after just eight minutes at King Power Stadium, as City picked up three points and a second consecutive clean sheet in the WSL, where they sit seventh with five points.
One change was made from the Leicester team that kept a clean sheet at Villa Park last week, with Deanne Rose coming in for her first WSL start, replacing Missy Goodwin. Academy players Ffion Morgan and Sammy Kaczmar were named on the bench for the first time with Hannah Cain included in a matchday squad for the first time since suffering the second ACL injury of her career.
Struggling to find a way to work the ball into dangerous areas last week, City started strongly and took the lead early on through Momiki. On the break, the Japanese midfielder worked her way into the box from Shana Chossenotte's pass, nutmegging an Everton defender before finding the corner.
It was end-to-end football in the early stages on Filbert Way; Janina Leitzig called into action on a couple of occasions from close range but the German was able to deal with them, with both sides aware of the importance of three points.
The best chance following the restart fell to the visitors when a low ball across was destined for Veatriki Sarri, but pressure from CJ Bott was enough to discourage the Everton forward, who put the effort wide.
As the pressure built, Janice Cayman was introduced into a centre-forward position, replacing a hard-working Ruby Mace, as Amandine Miquel was inching closer to a first Leicester win, with an hour played.
With Leicester still in front, the next round of changes warranted a round of applause as it marked the return of Cain, 330 days after her last outing, before sustaining a second ACL injury. The Welsh forward almost scoring with her first touch if not for a slightly heavy through ball from Cayman.
Into the final 15 minutes and it was Cain looking dangerous, having a great opportunity to mark her return with a goal when she was once again supplied by Cayman. Driving into the box from the right flank, she cut inside onto her left foot, before dancing back onto her right, but saw the final effort saved by Courtney Brosnan.
Amidst the Everton chances which were starting to fall more regularly, City had the chance to put the game to bed when Belgian international Cayman played in Asmita Ale, but the full-back was wrong footed and sent the ball over the bar.
Some nerve-wracking moments later, after some close efforts from the Toffees, the referee blew an end to proceedings, confirming Leicester's first win of the season, and first win under the management of Miquel.
Now heading into an international break, City are back in action when they travel to in-form Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday 3 November (3pm BST kick-off) at Broadfield Stadium in Crawley.