City out of the Women’s FA Cup on penalties

Mary Fowler’s deflected strike inside six first-half minutes got City off to a dream start.

It took until the 96th minute for another goal, as Tottenham’s Beth England profited from an uncharacteristic defensive mix up to tap into an empty net - forcing the game to extra time.

A goalless 30 minutes meant penalties were to follow and, after Alex Greenwood and Chloe Kelly had their spot kicks saved, Amy James-Turner scored the winner to see our FA Cup campaign end at the quarter-final stage.

WHAT HAPPENED

City were looking to bounce back after our narrow 1-0 Continental Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea in midweek, and we came flying out of the traps.

You could sense the opener was coming as pressure grew on the Spurs defence.

Yui Hasegawa, Mary Fowler and Kerstin Casparij caused problems down the right side, and Filippa Angeldahl had the first shot of the match, but it fired over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.

But our 800th goal as a professional outfit would arrive soon after.

Indeed, Fowler’s deflected attempt found the back of the net, after a lovely give and go between her and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw created space inside the penalty area for a shot.

The home supporters picked Spurs’ players up, and down at the other end Jessica Naz nearly found an opening to shoot, but Alex Greenwood slid in and made a critical block to deny the striker almost immediately after our opener.

Fowler was continuing to threaten the hosts’ defence, and she almost grabbed a second when she hit the ball into the ground on the volley from Hemp’s cross, which took the pace off the ball and Rebecca Spencer was able to gather.

Tottenham were struggling to make an impact in the game, and City nearly came close to a second.

Angeldahl found Hemp on the left, who dribbled into the box and after a Spurs defender got a touch on the ball, it almost deflected into the net, but Spencer was there to palm the ball away.

It was all about fine margins in this first-half. Hemp and Casparij saw their crosses go into the penalty area too high at one end, while Khiara Keating had to run off her line to deny Naz a goalscoring opportunity before half-time at the other.

But the second-half began in cagey fashion, with Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw unlucky to not give City a second goal as her powerful header from Hemp’s cross flew over the crossbar.

Buoyed by the crowd, Spurs’ tails were up, and it was a test of City’s resolve who were having to defend well.

Grace Clinton’s cross nearly buried into the far corner of Keating’s net, before Leila Ouahabi had to clear Eveliina Summanen’s flick on at the front post from a corner.

After an attacking spell from Spurs, Fowler put in an teasing cross towards Shaw who dropped to the ground and was substituted shortly after, as she held onto her shoulder.

Gareth Taylor’s side began to get a grip back on the game. Jess Park could not get a firm connection on a strike from another Fowler cross, before Hemp uses her nous and experience to win a free-kick.

With 10 minutes to play, Spurs began to throw everything at City with Alex Greenwood and Laia Aleixandri putting in important tackles at the back to deny forward Celin Bizet having a shot on goal.

But City were keeping their back door shut, as Beth England’s snapshot from a few yards out flew over the crossbar and Rosella Ayane’s effort bounced off Clinton and out for a goal kick after she cut out Keating’s pass.

City remained untroubled in injury time, but a mix up at the back between Aleixandri and Keating resulted in England being able to tap into an empty net to take the game to extra time.

Chloe Kelly was introduced before the match resumed, and she was involved instantly. Her finessed effort just evaded the target after connecting with Hemp’s cross.

Greenwood was unable to connect onto Kelly’s whipped cross as her header landed onto the roof of the net, before Hemp’s chipped effort sailed over the bar.

Kelly provided a real threat in extra time, and an outstretched palm from the Tottenham goalkeeper, Spencer, stopped the ball from finding the bottom right hand corner.

But with neither side able to find that all-important second, the game would go down to the lottery of a penalty shootout.

In a cruel twist of fate, Greenwood and Kelly were both denied by Spencer for City’s first two penalties, and despite Keating saving Ayane’s spot kick, it wasn’t enough.

James-Turner stepped up and converted the winning penalty to send Tottenham through to the semis, and deny City the dream of lifting the cup.

HOW WE LINED UP

Gareth Taylor made two changes from the side that were edged out by Chelsea in midweek as Laura Coombs and Chloe Kelly dropped to the bench for Filippa Angeldahl and Mary Fowler.

Khiara Keating started in goal and was protected by a back four of Kerstin Casparij, Alex Greenwood, Laia Aleixandri and Leila Ouahabi.

Yui Hasegawa played in front of the defence in the number six position, with Angeldahl and Jess Park pushing further forward in a midfield three.

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw led the attacking line, with Lauren Hemp and Fowler supporting her on the wings.

Tottenham Hotspurs Women

XI | Spencer, Neville, James-Turner, Bartrip, Nildén, Summanen (86’ Wang), Ahtinen (62’ Graham), Clinton, Bizet (86’ Vinberg) Ildusøy, Thomas (77’ England), Naz (62’ Ayane)

Subs | Votíková, Grant, Petzelberger, Bühler

Manchester City Women

XI | Keating, Casparij, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouahabi (73’ Morgan), Angeldahl, Hasegawa, Park (91’ Kelly), Fowler, Shaw (71’ Coombs), Hemp

Subs | Stokes, Houghton, Maclver, Mace, Kennedy

WHAT’S NEXT

City are back to FA Women’s Super League action next weekend, as we travel down to the south coast to face Brighton.

Kick-off is scheduled for Sunday 17 March at 12:30 (UK).

Next Fixture

All fixtures

Sun 17 Mar

Barclays WSL

Brighton

12:30

GMT

Man City