Following a goalless 90+ minutes, Manchester City edged Leicester City on penalties at the Perth International Cup.
Manchester City dominated first-half possession, during which Poppy Pritchard forced a diving save from Janina Leipzig.
Saori Takarada pulled a rare chance just wide of the far post for Leicester after a good run and cross by Noémie Mouchon.
There was a step up in tempo at the start of the second half, with substitute Manchester City goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita saving three times in the first eight minutes; firstly from Mouchon, when one-on-one with Jutta Rantala and then pushing away a Deanne Rose effort.
Jess Park had a shot blocked at the other end, Vivienne Miedema made her Manchester City debut when coming off the bench for the last 20 minutes.
Lize Kop, who had taken over duties in the Leicester net, parried a 25-yard strike from Mary Fowler, who was later prevented from getting a firmer close-range effort on goal by CJ Bott.
In the 89th minute Miedema headed Aoba Fujino’s cross against the crossbar and Kop saved Khadija Shaw’s shot from a tight angle.
Miedema was denied at the last by Kop, who also prevented Park getting a stoppage-time winner.
With the tie remaining deadlocked it went straight to penalties, Yamashita saved twice including a touch onto the post, Miedema converting the decisive spot-kick.
Meanwhile, Leicester City have today signed French youth international winger Shana Chossenotte from Stade de Reims on a three-year contract.
She joins after three years in the French Première Ligue, making 37 appearances and helping Reims finish fourth last season.
Internationally, has 36 caps for her country across the youth age groups.
Another addition to the Blue Army 🔷 pic.twitter.com/cw2ikf8TYc
— LCFC Women (@LCFC_Women) August 28, 2024
The second Perth International Cup semi-final between West Ham and PSG is on Thursday at 11.15am BST.
