Leicester City have qualified for their first FA Cup semi-final
Jutta Rantala scored twice as Leicester City beat Liverpool to secure a place in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals for the first time.
The hosts dominated possession and chances in the opening stages at Prenton Park, but were not clinical in front of goal.
Finland midfielder Rantala was quickest to react to a rebound for the opener, smashing the ball low into the bottom corner after Janice Cayman had initially gone close with a curling shot off the left-hand post.
Without a home win since mid-November, Liverpool pushed forward in search of an equaliser. However the Foxes remained resolute, maintaining a narrow one-goal lead at the interval.
Midway through the second half Leicester punished Liverpool’s wastefulness once more as Rantala led a counter-attack before crashing home her second goal from the edge of the box off the crossbar.
Assistant manager Jennifer Foster and first-team coach Stephen Kirby took charge of the Foxes, with manager Willie Kirk not on the touchline because he is “assisting the club with an internal process”.
Liverpool boss Matt Beard brought on fresh legs in a bid to get back in the game, but the Reds were unable to turn their dominance in possession into goals.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Liverpool Women
Formation 5-3-2
1 law
2Koivisto17Clark5Fahey4Fisk6Matthews
7Kearns15Lundgaard14Höbinger
13Enderby10Haug
- 1 law
- 2KoivistoSubstituted for Parryat 81’minutes
- 17ClarkSubstituted forLawleyat 68’minutes
- 5Fahey
- 4 Fish
- 6 Matthews
- 7Kearns
- 15 Lundgaard
- 14Höbinger
- 13EnderbySubstituted won the Sandenat 68’minutes
- 10HaugSubstituted forKiernanat 57’minutes
Substitutes
- 9Kiernan
- 11Lawley
- 16 Micah
- 19van de Sanden
- 20Daniels
- 23Bonner
- 32Parry
Leicester City Women
Formation 4-1-4-1
23Kop
4Bott5Howard17Thibaud11Cayman
15 Takarada
8Rantala3Tierney18Pelgander2Nevin
10Whelan
- 23Kop
- 4Bott
- 5Howard
- 17Thibaud
- 11Cayman
- 15 Takarada
- 8 Rantala
- 3TierneySubstituted forGreenat 90+1’minutes
- 18PelganderSubstituted forMomikiat 68’minutes
- 2NevinSubstituted forAleat 45’minutes
- 10WhelanSubstituted forPetermannat 68’minutes
Substitutes
- 1 Leitzig
- 6 Palms
- 9Petermann
- 12Ale
- 14Green
- 19 Siemsen
- 20Goodwin
- 29Momiki
- 32Baker
Live Text
Match ends, Liverpool Women 0, Leicester City Women 2.
Second Half ends, Liverpool Women 0, Leicester City Women 2.
Attempt missed. Nicole Momiki (Leicester City Women) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Substitution, Leicester City Women. Josie Green replaces Sam Tierney.
Corner, Leicester City Women. Conceded by Missy Kearns.
Substitution, Liverpool Women. Lucy Parry replaces Emma Koivisto.
Foul by Melissa Lawley (Liverpool Women).
Jutta Rantala (Leicester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Nicole Momiki (Leicester City Women) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Attempt missed. Sam Tierney (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high.
Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sophie Howard (Leicester City Women).
Sofie Lundgaard (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sam Tierney (Leicester City Women).
Substitution, Liverpool Women. Melissa Lawley replaces Jenna Clark.
Substitution, Liverpool Women. Shanice van de Sanden replaces Mia Enderby.
Substitution, Leicester City Women. Nicole Momiki replaces Emilia Pelgander.
Substitution, Leicester City Women. Lena Petermann replaces Aileen Whelan.
Attempt missed. Missy Kearns (Liverpool Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Goal! Liverpool Women 0, Leicester City Women 2. Jutta Rantala (Leicester City Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Aileen Whelan.
2024-03-09 14:06:23
#Liverpool #Leicester #Jutta #Rantala #double #fires #Foxes #Womens #Cup #semifinal
