Ava Baker secures Leicester's WSL status as the Foxes make history

Leicester City secured their top-flight status with a 1-0 win against Brighton and Hove Albion in Saturday afternoon's Barclay's Women's Super League at Broadfield Stadium.

(Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)

Leicester dominated play throughout the game, creating the better and clear-cut chances. Brighton barely threatened their box until late on.

Super-substitute Ava Baker scored with 17 minutes to play to secure WSL status for Leicester City. The 17-year-old, from Leicester, poked the ball over the line following a City corner.

After their win, Leicester have finished the season in 10th and the Foxes became the first team in the WSL to turn around a seven point deficit at the bottom of the table.

Both sides had spells of possession in the first 15 minutes, but it was Leicester who managed to create the chances.

In the 17th minute Remy Siemsen nudged the ball into the path of Hannah Cain, but the forward struggled to find the bottom corner as the ball rolled wide of the Brighton net.

Six minutes later, CJ Bott played Missy Goodwin in front of goal, but the 20-year-old forward's shot missed the target.

With less than five minutes to go until half-time, Aileen Whelan was fouled in the box as she tried to turn away with the ball. The Leicester players appealed for a penalty, but the referee disagreed and waved play on.

The first-half ended 0-0 with Leicester looking the more dominant side.

The Foxes started the second-half with the same intensity as they finished in the first.

In the 51st minute Cain won a free-kick on the edge of the Brighton box. The Welsh international took it and attempted a shot, but she was unable to find the top right corner.

Five minutes later Cain was through on goal again, but her shot from the edge of the box dragged wide of the post.

City made their first substitution of the game on the hour mark, as Missy Goodwin was replaced with forward Shannon O'Brien.

Four minutes later Brighton made a double substitution, as 20-year-old midfielder Maisie Symonds was replaced by Danielle Carter and Welsh forward Kayleigh Green was replaced by Poppy Pattinson.

With just over 20 minutes left to play Leicester made a further two substitutions. 17-year-old midfielder Ava Baker came on for forward Remy Siemsen and midfielder Monique Robinson replaced Hannah Cain.

Six minutes after coming on as a substitute, Ava Baker broke the deadlock to put the Foxes ahead. There was a scramble inside the box, following Sam Tierney's header from a Leicester corner, but Baker was there to get the ball across the line.

In the 77th minute, Robinson picked out Whelan in the box, but the midfielder's header was saved by Megan Walsh.

As time ticked closer to full-time, Brighton piled on the pressure. In the 87th minute Elisabeth Terland challenged Janina Leitzig, but her shot was saved by the German goalkeeper.

The game ended 1-0, thanks to Ava Baker's goal which helped Leicester to secure their WSL status and make WSL history.