Match reportLeeds United Ladies started their League Cup defence with a hard-fought draw at Sunderland.

Chloe Foster got her first for the club after a good flowing move down the right saw the ball reach Carey Huegett with her back to goal. Her lay-off allowed Foster to strike the ball past the Sunderland keeper and in off her right-hand post.

But Sunderland came out in a much more determined manner for the second half, and thir pressure eventually told in the 68th minute when Abby Holmes managed to thread the ball past several Leeds players from six yards out.

Leeds came back into the game later in the half and looked more likely to score as the game ended, but manager Gemma Grainger was happy enough a draw against the toughest opposition in the group.

“We’re the holders, so we want to get out of the group stages at least,” she said. “Sunderland was always going to be a tough proposition, especially at their own ground, and while we’re disappointed not to have won, it was a good performance again from us, and we look forward to the next game when we host Barnet in the league.”