Foxes Relegated From WSL After Charlton Loss

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Foxes Relegated From WSL After Charlton Loss

Goalless after 120 minutes, LCFC Women lost 2-1 on penalties to Charlton Athletic in the WSL Play-Off, as we were relegated from WSL1 after a five-year stay in the top division.

2026-05-23T17:30+01:00

by Matthew Temple

Published

3 Hours 34 Mins Ago

from The Valley

Foxes Relegated From WSL After Charlton Loss

Goalless after 120 minutes, LCFC Women lost 2-1 on penalties to Charlton Athletic in the WSL Play-Off, as we were relegated from WSL1 after a five-year stay in the top division.

Matthew Temple

2026-05-23T17:30+01:00

Foxes Relegated From WSL After Charlton Loss

Goalless after 120 minutes, LCFC Women lost 2-1 on penalties to Charlton Athletic in the WSL Play-Off, as we were relegated from WSL1 after a five-year stay in the top division.

Matthew Temple

2026-05-23T17:30+01:00

Foxes Relegated From WSL After Charlton Loss

Goalless after 120 minutes, LCFC Women lost 2-1 on penalties to Charlton Athletic in the WSL Play-Off, as we were relegated from WSL1 after a five-year stay in the top division.

Matthew Temple

2026-05-23T17:30+01:00

Foxes Relegated From WSL After Charlton Loss

Goalless after 120 minutes, LCFC Women lost 2-1 on penalties to Charlton Athletic in the WSL Play-Off, as we were relegated from WSL1 after a five-year stay in the top division.

Matthew Temple

2026-05-23T17:30+01:00

Missing three of our four spot-kicks after two hours of action in the boiling heat, Charlton Athletic took the final spot in next season's WSL1 campaign, while we'll play in WSL2.

There was just one change from the side that finished the regular season at Goodison Park, with Jutta Rantala coming back in for her first start since her absence through injury, replacing Emily van Egmond.

Feeling the heat in London

Dealing with the heat in Saturday's play-off.

The day of the play-off was met with the bank holiday sunshine, and the hottest temperatures so far this year. It's fair to say this affected both teams, and their ability to get a dominant foothold on the game.

Throughout the half, which included a drinks break halfway through, both teams saw moments of control, with the Foxes coming closest later on in the first period, when constant crosses into the box caused problems for the Charlton defence, but they eventually managed to deal with the danger.

At the other end, Julie Thibaud was needed for early heroics, tracking the Charlton forward's switch across her body, getting in the way of a likely goal.

Nothing between the sides at 90 minutes

It remained goalless after 90 minutes.

As the afternoon progressed, City were on the front foot, with Sam Tierney and Olivia McLoughlin working hard in midfield to prevent the hosts retaining possession.

The introduction of van Egmond, Ashleigh Neville and Rachel Williams allowed us to change our approach. As the clock ticked by, we started putting pressure on an ever-tiring Charlton.

Several crosses into the box later, in which the best chance coming when Neville directed an effort goalwards at the back post, the referee's whistle blew, bringing an end to proceedings after 90 minutes; to extra-time we went.

Beaten on penalties

Leicester lost out on penalties at the Valley.

We were threatening heading into extra-time, and continued to probe the Addicks' backline, but to no avail after an extra 30 minutes, meaing our fate for next season was to be decided by penalties.

McLoughlin was the only Fox to score from 12 yards, as van Egmond, Shannon O'Brien, Heather Payne, and Noémie Mouchon all saw their efforts saved.

Katie Keane played her part, saving two of Charlton's penalties, but it still ended 2-1 in favour of the hosts, as we now prepare for our first season in the second tier since 2021.

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