Shannon O'Brien celebrates scoring Leicester's openerGetty Images
Leicester City took a huge step towards safety with a 3-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the King Power Stadium.
Amandine Miquel's side were just three points above the relegation zone heading into the latest round of Women's Super League matches.
However, three first-half goals helped the 10th-placed Foxes pick up their first league win since 16 February and widen the gap to bottom side Crystal Palace to six points with five matches remaining.
Shannon O'Brien gave the hosts the lead inside 11 minutes, pouncing on a Brighton error and firing a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Brighton were again at fault for Leicester's second, giving the ball away on the halfway line to unleash a counter-attacking Hannah Cain down the right. She picked out Saori Takarada, who side-footed home from close range.
A Rachel McLaughlan own goal made it three on the stroke of half-time, the ball ricocheting off the Brighton defender after Shana Chossenotte connected with Cain's low cross.
Leicester were cruising towards the three points until the 73rd minute, when Madison Haley squeezed a long-range effort beyond the fingertips of Janina Leitzig.
Yuka Momiki had a golden opportunity to restore the Foxes' three-goal lead from the penalty spot minutes later, but saw her effort saved by Melina Loeck, before handing Brighton a lifeline when she brought down Nikita Parris in Leicester's box.
Fran Kirby made no mistake with her penalty, sending Leitzig the wrong way to set up a nervy final 10 minutes for the home side.
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1 Give it up
10 Pure perfection
Leicester City
Brighton & Hove Albion
Starting XI
1J. Leitzig
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12A. Ale
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31C. Swaby
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5S. Howard
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17J. Thibaud
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11J. Cayman
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3S. Tierney
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28S. Chossenotte
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6S. Takarada
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21H. Cain
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27S. O’Brien
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4C. Bott
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53N. Las
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29Y. Momiki
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7D. Rose
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25K. Torres
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Starting XI
28M. Loeck
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3P. Pattinson
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5G. Bergsvand
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2M. Þórisdóttir
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19M. Olislagers
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27R. McLauchlan
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15N. Noordam
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18M. Symonds
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14F. Kirby
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9N. Parris
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21M. Haley
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59M. Agyemang
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23M. Auée
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8P. Bremer
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11K. Seike
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22D. Stefanović
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Related topics
Football
Women's Football