Women’s FA Cup: Leicester City 1-2 Manchester City

Manchester City set up a Women’s FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal after being made to work hard by Championship side Leicester City.

Championship side Leicester, the lowest-ranked team left in the cup, were this afternoon, under way at home to the holders Man City. And the game was being played on the Foxes’ artificial 3G pitch, which was relatively unfamiliar for the top-flight visitors.

The Foxes knocked out top-tier opposition in Reading in the previous round, way back in February. It was one of the only cup upsets we saw in the English women’s game last term. Foxes keeper Demi Lambourne does really well to deny England striker Ellen White and moments later Manchester City clipped the crossbar through Scotland’s Caroline Weir. And England winger Chloe Kelly gets her first Manchester City goal since her summer transfer from Everton as she powerfully found the net from the penalty spot after Caroline Wier had gone down in the box.

It was a silky, lobbed finish from Georgia Stanway in 42mins and her third goal in three games doubles the holders’ lead.

However, Leicester refused to give up and were rewarded when Millie Farrow was brought down in the Manchester City penalty area and the Championship side had a penalty. Straight down the middle, Charlie Devlin pulled a goal back from the spot at about 78mins time and the final 12 minutes became very interesting.

Finally, the Foxes struggled to create another opening in their bid to force extra time, with the visitors looking more likely to go on and grab a third. But the end came at 1-2 against the hosting team.

Manchester City’s win today means they will face Arsenal in Thursday’s second semi-final after winning 4-0 over Tottenham (19:15 BST, live on BBC Two).