Atlanta Primus has provided London City Lionesses a platform with which they can save their season. The winger scored two goals and assisted another in her side’s 4-1 win over Leicester City.
Atlanta Primus Finally Shows Potential After Summer Move
Primus Joined the Lionesses From California State University – But Had Yet to Score Until Today
Atlanta Primus’ performance against Leicester City showed the WSL 2 what she was all about – in an overall display full of energy and lethal finishing.
Primus had struggled at Prince’s Park since her move from California in the summer. The winger hadn’t scored for her new club up until today.
Primus told Last Word On Football that her brace will help her confidence going forward:
“Obviously [I’m] delighted to get off the mark. Obviously, there’s a little bit of pressure when you come into a new club and you want to get on the scoresheet.
“To be able to get on twice, obviously I’m delighted with that, but for me I’m ultimately all about the team and the three points.”
Lionesses’ interim head coach, Melissa Phillips, wasn’t surprised at Primus’ display – admitting that she’s always had faith in the 23-year-old:
“Atlanta has been knocking on the frame of the goal for the last few games, so incredibly pleased that she was able to put a few away.
“She does all the right things off the pitch and in training, so I think for her it was just a matter of having a bit of that confidence through her preparation to get those goals today.”
Encouraging Signs in Lionesses’ Display as Leicester Find Themselves Outplayed
The signs leading into the match all pointed towards a Leicester victory. The away side sat third in the table going into the game, while the Lionesses’ only victory this season had come against bottom side London Bees.
While Primus will rightly take the plaudits, this performance was solid across all areas of the pitch.
Perhaps even more encouraging for Phillips was the fact that her team responded so well despite going a goal behind early on.
The ball broke to Leicester winger Paige Bailey-Gayle – who was her side’s main attacking threat throughout – who finished smartly from close range.
That goal had come against the run of play, as Lionesses belied their league position. Incisive passing through midfield was getting the side into promising positions – with just the final ball letting them down.
That all changed with Primus’ first goal – as she found herself in the right place to finish off a cross from Leicester’s right-hand side.
It was an area which the Lionesses were looking exploit, and Primus’ goal gave them their rewards.
The second-half saw the Lionesses continue to dominate proceedings. They took the lead for the first time after Lily Agg’s flick-on was picked up by Primus in the area. Her confidence was evident, as she finished coolly past Leicester keeper Kirstie Levell.
‘The Win was a Long Time Coming’
The two players swapped roles as they combined once again for their side’s third goal.
This time it was Primus with the cutting through ball, as Agg was sent clear on goal. A calm finish put the game beyond doubt.
Phillips was able to make changes, bringing on Elizabeth Ejupi up front.
Ejupi immediately made an impact as she played through fellow substitute Freda Ayisi. The ball broke back to Ejupi, who waltzed her way into space in the box. The striker’s shot looked goalbound but was miraculously headed off the line.
The chance looked to have gone until captain Ellie Mason stepped up. The centre-back unleashed a superb, dipping strike past Levell from 20 yards out. The goal capped off an authoritative display from the defender.
A convincing win against an admittedly below-par Leicester City was exactly what Agg believed she and her teammates deserved:
“We’ve been working really had the last two weeks. Mel [Phillips] has done a great job, we’ve worked hard in training and been driving each other on.
“It feels great to finally win – it’s been a long time coming. We’ve been a bit unlucky, and not been scoring, but then we pop up with four goals. It’s thoroughly deserved.”
The win puts the Lionesses up to sixth in the table – now just two points behind Leicester who dropped to fourth. Agg thinks the result demonstrates just how open the league is this year:
“Today we were massive underdogs. I think the good think about this league is that top can beat bottom, bottom can beat top. It’s so versatile. There’s competition throughout. I don’t think anyone would have fancied us today.”
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