May ⁠23 (Reuters) - Goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse saved four ⁠of the five penalties she faced ‌as Charlton Athletic beat Leicester City 2-1 in a shoot-out on Saturday towin promotion to the top flight ​of the Women's Super League.

With ⁠England's top division ⁠for women expanding to 14 teams next season, ⁠Charlton ‌came third in WSL 2 this season to earn a playoff ⁠against Leicester, who finished bottom of the ​top ‌flight, in a one-off playoff game to ⁠decide who ​would grab the final spot.

After 120 goalless minutes, the game went to penalties and shot-stopper ⁠Whitehouse rose to the occasion, ​saving the first two kicks from Emily van Egmond and Shannon O'Brien to put her ⁠side in the driving seat early in the shoot-out.

Olivia McLoughlin scored Leicester's third kick to give her side some hope, but ​the 29-year-old Whitehouse capped ⁠a superb season between the sticks for Charlton ​by denying Leicester's Heather ‌Payne and Noemie Mouchon to ​win promotion for her side.

(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; editing by Clare Fallon)