Leicester City 0-1 Manchester City: Chloe Kelly sends visitors to top of WSL
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WSL highlights: Chloe Kelly goal sends Manchester City to top of league
Chloe Kelly's 10th-minute strike sent Manchester City to the top of the Women's Super League and ended Leicester City's unbeaten start to the season at King Power Stadium.
England international Kelly capitalised on an abundance of space and generous goalkeeping to collect Jill Roord's pass and fire a low drive under Janina Leitzig for her second goal of the season.
The victory moves City a point clear at the top - above Tottenham, who won 4-2 at Aston Villa earlier on Saturday - but Chelsea could go level on points with the leaders when they host Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.
Courtney Nevin made a goalline clearance after the opener to prevent City from doubling their lead as Leicester manager Willie Kirk boldly opted for a three-player defence.
"We said that we were playing a high-risk game of poker - high risks and high rewards," Kirk told BBC Sport.
"We were just half a yard off being excellent. I don't think 'little Leicester' are so little any more. We've made a statement in these opening four games."
Visiting goalkeeper Khiara Keating was called into urgent action to deny Lena Petermann as Leicester threatened to punish City for missed chances, while Jess Park missed an open goal following an incisive Lauren Hemp run during the second half.
Fourth-placed Leicester, who remain three points off the summit, are next in action when they visit Liverpool on Sunday, 5 November. City travel to Arsenal earlier that day.
Citizens fend off Foxes
City's challenge proved far less straightforward than their 5-0 win at home to Bristol City last Sunday, and Taylor must have quietly feared that they would regret the chances they spurned during the first half.
"We said at half-time that it was like Russian roulette at the back," said Taylor.
"If we'd put our chances away, they'd probably have changed to a back four. Playing a back three was really brave of them."
City manager Gareth Taylor praised his side's resilience after they kept a third clean sheet in four WSL matches this season
Leitzig endured a busy first half which included 18 attempts on goal and nine on target between the teams, with Nevin left exposed for City's goal.
Mary Fowler was among the players to go closest when she narrowly failed to squeeze a second past Leitzig from close range, but the flow of chances slowed in Leicester's favour immediately after the break.
City's top scorer last season, Khadija Shaw, had a quiet game by her prolific standards and appeared to be suffering from an ankle problem late in the first half, getting medical attention before re-emerging for the second period.
Hemp's introduction from the bench gave City more of the momentum, the forward's dazzling run ending in Leitzig parrying her shot into the path of fellow substitute Park, who shot over with the Leicester goal unguarded.
With the prospect of an end to their season-opening three-game unbeaten league run drawing nearer, Leicester increased their attacking intent and tested Keating.