Zigiotti Olme own goal puts London City in front early in first half
Lionesses dominate with double Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas in midfield
Clever Van de Donk flick puts home side two up
Late consolation scored in 99th minute by Awujo with Man Utd's first shot on target
Thanks for joining us for the first game of the 2026-27 WSL season.
After more women's football?
Well you're in luck!
Join us again tomorrow for live text commentary of Chelsea v Aston Villa and you can watch on BBC One from 12:25 BST and BBC iPlayer from even earlier at midday.
See you then!
FT: London City 2-1 Man Utd
Manchester United manager 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] us 90 minutes, it's not enough just 40 minutes trying to have the ball.
On London City's pressure: "We knew that they will come. In the first half we didn't have the support to receive the pressure. We didn't have the players in the pockets. Simple things. I tried to fix in the first half but still that confidence was not there. In the half-time, we used it to fix everything. In the second half when we started playing through the middle, we improved a lot.
"I knew that it will be like this. I totally believed that if we are with confidence we can compete against everyone. Today, if we play 90 minutes as the second half it will be another story. If you have the ball, they are not creating as they created."
On getting a goal back late on: "It's not enough. We want to score goals from open play, set plays, create more chances. That is my job, fix that to create more chances and have more confidence with the ball."
On playing Chelsea next: "I'm looking forward. We want to play against the best. We have one week to improve and fix the things we have to fix."
FT: London City 2-1 Man Utd
Manchester United have failed to win in their last five games in the Women's Super League, their longest winless streak in the competition.
FT: London City 2-1 Man Utd
London City Lionesses forward Delphine Cascarino speaking to Sky Sports on the sell out crowd: "What a night, we are so proud. I am so proud of the team, I am so proud of Dan [van de Donk]. It was a tough game and we did it so we are really happy."
On her assist for van de Donk: "We improvise. Dan is always in the good position so I just put the ball and the magic happened."
FT: London City 2-1 Man Utd
Image source, Getty ImagesLondon City Lionesses' Alanna Kennedy: "It was really good. I think the energy from the start was really positive, the atmosphere the fans brought was electric. Good to get the season off to a good start."
On putting on the pressure that led to the first goal: "I felt as though I couldn't claim it. I know the girls were getting around me but it was obviously an own goal. Things like that, you get a bit lucky when you put people under pressure. I was happy to be involved."
On the squad's togetherness: "I think we've had a really good pre-season but it's been tough with injuries and people coming in and out to gel fully. I think the morale and togetherness is really high. I think that was evident from the start of the match and that's what's important for a winning team. We're off to a good start but it's just the beginning."
Off to a good start: "They're an unreal team, they've had a lot of success over the years. For us it was more about what we're trying to build and achieve. We're off to a good start."
FT: London City 2-1 Man Utd
It doesn't get any easier for Eva Olid and Manchester United.
They've got Chelsea and Arsenal coming up.
FT: London City 2-1 Man Utd
There's a chance for London City Lionesses to put their foot down over September after the perfect start to the season.
FT: London City 2-1 Man Utd
London City Lionesses midfielder Danielle van de Donk speaking to Sky Sports on her goal: "Maybe a bit of luck as well!
On how close this is to the best level of the team: "I think we don't even know our best level yet because we have not played together yet so hopefully there is still more to come. I think we have loads to improve still."
On putting teams under pressure: "It takes a lot out of you, the pressing, but if you see how much it benefits us."
On being back to her best after injury: "I'm just so happy it's finally working out for me. I worked so hard last year and was disappointed every time so just enjoy every minute I can. You work so hard towards something and every time you get a bit of a taste and then something else happens and it was all year. I was very lucky I had my whole team around me, my wife and they got me through it and that's why I'm here still."
FT: London City 2-1 Man Utd
Image source, Getty ImagesLondon City Lionesses' Alexia Putellas speaking to BBC Sport, on today's game: "Amazing. Incredible. We are so happy. We had a strong beginning so [we're] really, really happy."
On what today taught her about English football: "I'm still learning, it's the first game. It's a physical league. I'm the player who thinks the ball always moves faster than the legs so we're going to try to improve that kind of thing. It's the first game, we have to bring more improvement of course. We are going to give better and better football to our crowd. Very happy to start with three points and we keep moving."
On what she's enjoyed since coming to England: "The new challenge. Everything is new for me, but it's a kind of challenge and seeing where are my limits. It's my main objective here, my main challenge, to be the best I can and put that for the team."
On her YouTube channel getting rights to show WSL matches in Spain: "It's one of my concerns, to bring to the fans the games, the incredible stories about players, the incredible talent that we have in the team and also in the league. It's just one of my concerns. I asked for that and I had the chance. It's not business for me, it's just the chance to bring football and more stories to more households."
FT: London City 2-1 Man Utd
London City Lionesses manager 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 values to respect. I think we are one step closer to hitting the targets. I'm very excited and very happy."
On Danielle van de Donk's goalscoring performance: "I'm so pleased to see Danielle scoring and playing well. She brings a lot of energy to our identity, from her commitment and ambition. From early in pre-season she showed what she's capable of doing. I think she's going to score many more goals.
"I am very pleased for all the injured players. They had some tough moments in long periods so having them involved is a very good point. They are going to be very happy."
Click 'Get Involved' on this page to have your say
This is what happens when you change the manager 3-4 weeks out of the new season. I do not expect United to do well. I may be wrong but I doubt it
Simon, Accrington
FT: London City 2-1 Man Utd
FT: London City 2-1 Man Utd
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk
Former Liverpool forward on Sky Sports
I think it's a tough learning curve from Manchester United. You look at what Manchester United have to come and it only gets tougher.
FT: London City 2-1 Man Utd
Rachel Corsie
Former Scotland defender on Sky Sports
London City really dominated a lot of the game.
Kennedy was really good, we saw some great moments from Geyoro. There is a long list of players who had a really good night tonight.
I was intrigued to see how London City would look. It was a tough test and I thought they were really impressive.
FT: London City 2-1 Man Utd
London City fully deserved their win and will be disappointed they didn't score more.
It took 100 minutes for Manchester United to have their first and only shot on target.
London City 2-1 Man Utd
That was the final kick of the game as London City get the three points.
London City 2-1 Man Utd
Izzy Christiansen
Former England and Man City midfielder on Sky Sports
It's a really good ball in initially from Toone. Awuja is the first player to react and she has been a bright spark since she arrived on the pitch. She's got the goal to match her efforts.
Simi Awujo (90+10 mins)
A late consolation as Simi Awujo slots into the bottom corner and denies London City a clean sheet.
London City 2-0 Man Utd
London City owner Michele Kang is watching on and she must be pleased with what she has seen this evening.
London City 2-0 Man Utd
Freya Godfrey tries to curl a ball into the bottom corner with Phallon Tullis-Joyce at full stretch but it just goes wide.
Putellas makes debut as London City beat Manchester United in season opener
London City Lionesses opened the Women's Super League season with victory over Manchester United as Alexia Putellas made her debut.
Eder Maestre's side were in control in a more one-sided affair than many expected, as United began their new era under manager Eva Olid in disappointment.
The hosts, watched in the stands by US owner Michele Kang, took an early lead through Julia Zigiotti's own goal when she deflected in Alanna Kennedy's header.
It was game over when Danielle van de Donk's superb flick made it 2-0 to London City with less than 10 minutes remaining and Simi Awujo's stoppage-time strike was little but a consolation goal for United.
They came close on other occasions through Delphine Cascarino and United defender Jayde Riviere also had to clear the ball off the line in the first half.
Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Putellas, who was named captain this week, had a quiet debut but showed glimpses of her well-known quality.
Spain team-mate Mapi Leon had an impressive debut, while Kennedy also stood out in London City's new-look midfield.
United, who had debutants of their own in Andrea Medina and Monica Jusu Bah, did improve in the second half and looked more threatening but it was not enough.
It will raise further questions about United's capability to challenge for a Champions League qualification spot this season.
There will be a much more positive response to London City's showing, though they were dealt a blow with a serious-looking injury to Lucia Corrales in the second half.
How London City proved they can live up to the hype
Nobody really knew what to expect from Maestre's side in the opening game having signed so many players in the summer transfer window.
One of them - Putellas - was met by excited cheers when she ran out before kick-off and London City's billionaire owner Kang greeted fans wearing a match shirt with her name on the back.
London City's two-time Ballon d'Or winner Putellas was aware of the hype her debut would cause and earlier on Friday she launched a new YouTube channel to show the WSL in Spain this season.
The celebrities were in Bromley but could they deliver when it mattered?
It did not take long for London City to prove doubters wrong as Kennedy's deflected header gave them a deserved lead and they quickly grew in confidence, with Van de Donk's flick the icing on the cake late on.
If this performance was anything to go by - albeit against a disappointing United side - they showed they are capable of competing higher up the table this season.
It was not a strong start to Olid's new tenure as Manchester United manager and some of the same errors from last season were on show.
She promised attacking football and, while patience is obviously needed, there was little to suggest United will be delivering it any time soon.
They had no shots in the first half and were outplayed by an energetic London City side, who took advantage of United's ongoing weakness at defending set-pieces, scoring from two.
The visitors struggled to break through the hosts' press and there was no connection between United's midfielders when they did get possession.
After an underwhelming transfer window, this performance did little to ease concerns by United supporters that they will drop off from their rivals this season.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
Manager:Eder Maestre
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager:Eva Olid
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager:Eder Maestre
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager:Eva Olid
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Women's Super League
All competitions
All competitions
