Five-star City cruise into Conti Cup quarter-finals

Gareth Taylor‘s side stormed into a four-goal lead at the break, courtesy of a Lauren Hemp brace, plus goals from Ellen White and Georgia Stanway, before Vicky Losada completed the rout with a stunning long-range chip to clinch top spot in Group B North in emphatic fashion.

The visitors produced a thoroughly professional display against a youthful Foxes outfit with a dominant performance from the outset, continuing our impressive form and start to 2022 with our second high-scoring win of the week, after Sunday’s six-goal haul at Brighton and Hove Albion.

There was further cause for celebration, as teenage goalkeeper Khiara Keating made her senior debut at the Pirelli Stadium, keeping a clean sheet, as City cruised to victory.

The win sets up a quarter-final tie at home to Bristol City on either Wednesday 19 or Thursday 20 January. Fixture information will be confirmed on mancity.com and our official app in the coming days.

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What happened

With a whole host of permutations meaning either City, Leicester or Charlton Athletic could progress to the next round, Taylor left nothing to chance, fielding a strong starting XI.

Buoyed by Sunday’s impressive 6-0 triumph at Brighton, the visitors laid immediate siege to the Leicester goal. Georgia Stanway dragged an effort wide from the edge of the box, before Vicky Losada fired straight at Sophie Harris.

The visitors opened the scoring after just eight minutes – Steph Houghton and Losada combining well to release the lively Jess Park, who crossed for White to convert at the near post.

Hemp almost made it two, firing just wide of the near post, but she made no mistake just a minute later, heading home another inch-perfect Park delivery.

And Park made it a hat-trick of assists inside the first 16 minutes, laying-off for Stanway to drive into the bottom corner and hand City a commanding advantage.

On 20 minutes, Park almost netted the goal her performance deserved, stinging the palms of Harris after dispossessing the Foxes in their own penalty area, before White also saw a headed effort well-claimed by the Leicester shot-stopper.

Hemp doubled her personal tally on 34 minutes, nodding home a clipped Lucy Bronze cross to make it 4-0.

As the onslaught continued, Filippa Angeldahl forced Harris into two smart stops in quick succession, before Houghton struck the post with a curling free-kick and Hemp headed onto the crossbar.

Bronze also saw an effort clawed away in the last major action of a thoroughly dominant opening 45.

Though Taylor made changes at the break, introducing Janine Beckie and Demi Stokes, City kept our foot on the gas and Losada added a fifth two minutes after the restart with the goal of the game, spotting Harris off her line and planting a superb chip from 30 yards.

Stokes then almost made an instant impact with a powerful drive that was beaten away, while Beckie and White fired off-target.

Taylor was able to rotate further, bringing on youngster Ruby Mace and the experienced Jill Scott, as City claimed a comfortable win to book our place in the last eight.

How we lined-up...

Taylor made four changes to the side that triumphed over Brighton at the weekend, as captain Houghton, Losada, Angeldahl and Park replaced Alanna Kennedy, Stokes, Laura Coombs and Hayley Raso. It was Houghton’s first start since September.

Keating made her debut in goal, shielded by a back line of Stanway, Alex Greenwood, Houghton and Bronze, while Keira Walsh protected the back four.

Angeldahl and Losada occupied midfield, flanked by Hemp and Park, with White leading the line upfront.

Once again, Caz Weir and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw were unavailable for selection, while Coombs also missed out.

CITY XI | Keating, Stanway, Greenwood, Houghton (C) (Mace 54’), Bronze (Stokes 46’), Walsh (Scott 54’), Angeldahl, Losada, Hemp (Beckie 46’), Park, White.

SUBS | Taieb.

LEICESTER XI | Harris, Brougham, De Graaf (Tierney 75’), Purfield (Howard 75’), Barker (C), Grant, Zajmi, Camwell (Devlin 46’), Baker, Brown (Pike 84’), Robinson.

SUBS | Lambourne, McManus, Plumptre.

Player of the Match: Jess Park

A constant threat from the off with her swift pace and delightful trickery, Park proved one of City’s most dangerous outlets throughout.

She made a blistering start to the game with a hat-trick of quickfire assists and was unfortunate not to write her own name onto the scoresheet. Not just one for the future!

What it means...

City complete our Group B North campaign top of the table with nine points from our four games, edging second-placed Manchester United with a superior goal difference.

We host Bristol City on either Wednesday or Thursday next week. Stay tuned to mancity.com and our official app for fixture confirmation.

Stat zone

1. Racing into a 4-0 goal lead after just 33 minutes, the game marked the quickest City had scored three and four goals since we became a professional outfit in 2014.
2. The triumph ensured we maintained our 100% record of reaching the knock-out stages of the Conti Cup, achieving the feat in all eight seasons.
3. We have won all of our six professional meetings against Leicester, scoring 26 goals - including 3-0, 4-0, 5-0 and 6-0 wins - and conceding just twice.

What’s next...

It’s another tight turnaround, as City travel to Aston Villa in the WSL on Saturday 15 January for a 12:30 kick-off at Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium.

City v Arsenal

Tickets for City’s first home game of 2022 - a crunch FA WSL clash against Arsenal - are now on sale.

Don’t miss your chance to cheer on Gareth Taylor‘s side on Sunday 23 January. Kick-off 18:45 at the Academy Stadium.

CITY V ARSENAL: BUY TICKETS