Tottenham Women 2 – 1 Leicester Women

Martha Thomas got here off the bench to attain an extra-time winner to ship Tottenham into their first Girls’s FA Cup closing, leaving Leicester heartbroken.

Tottenham had been made to work for his or her spot at Wembley on Could 18, as Leicester took the lead because of Jutta Rantala’s beautiful solo strike, silencing the 18,078 supporters on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Foxes, nonetheless managerless after the sacking of Willie Kirk resulting from a breach of the workforce’s code of conduct, thought they’d the ultimate spot however Josie Inexperienced’s error allowed Jessica Naz to attain with eight minutes of regular time remaining to the delight of the house crowd.

Leicester struck the crossbar within the first half of extra-time by Rantala, however Spurs’ substitute striker Thomas popped up with a looping header for the winner with the match moments from penalties.

Tottenham will face both Manchester United or Chelsea within the Wembley closing on Could 12.

How Spurs obtained on their strategy to Wembley

With each groups enjoying of their first FA Cup semi-final, they got here flying out of the blocks, with Leicester having the primary likelihood by captain Sam Tierney, who tried to chip Spurs goalkeeper Becky Spencer, who was off her line, from 35 yards, however the likelihood fell broad.

Spurs stepped on the accelerator themselves and Celin Bizet missed two massive probabilities to take the lead, seeing one close-range shot saved by Lize Kop, earlier than blazing over from contained in the field on the break after good work from Grace Clinton.

However then got here Leicester’s beautiful opener as Rantala burst down the correct and reduce inside, earlier than unleashing an unstoppable drive previous Spencer into the roof of the web.

Spurs tried to reply immediately however Clinton fired straight at Kop, whereas, on the different finish, Tierney missed a golden likelihood to make it two as Spencer kicked away her close-range effort after good work down the left by Deanna Rose.

Naz curled two probabilities broad of purpose for Spurs, who additionally noticed Eveliina Summanen head a nook over from shut vary. The hosts ended the primary half very pissed off.

The flurry of probabilities continued after the break. Leicester’s Lena Petermann had a shot blocked nicely by Luana Buelher within the field, earlier than Bethany England and Amanda Nilden each fired broad from good areas for Spurs.

An excellent Spurs likelihood then fell to Summanen, who scooped over the bar from a number of yards out after a near-post nook brought about havoc within the Leicester penalty space.

Spurs introduced on Thomas off the bench in a bid to spice up their attacking numbers however they really struggled. Their subsequent good likelihood to equalise got here within the closing 10 minutes of the sport when England headed over a nook on the close to submit.

However then got here the equaliser as Inexperienced didn’t clear an extended ball which allowed Naz by on purpose, with the Spurs winger ending coolly to ship the house followers wild.

Spurs weren’t accomplished there as they’d three golden probabilities to take the lead earlier than full-time. First Thomas’ strike was brilliantly tipped onto the submit by Kop, who was additionally equal to Amy James-Turner’s header from the ensuing nook.

Substitute Charlotte Grant thought she had scored the winner for the house facet when she latched onto a cross unmarked on the far submit, however fired broad of the close to submit.

So extra-time ensued and Leicester had by far the most effective likelihood of the primary interval, with Rantala hanging the bar from a free-kick on the sting of the field. Spurs substitute Matilda Vinberg had her facet’s greatest alternative, stinging Kop’s palms on the close to submit.

However, with penalties simply moments away, Thomas settled it by latching onto Vinberg’s deflected cross to nod dwelling the successful purpose into the far nook, with the wonderful Kop rooted to the spot.

What’s subsequent?

Tottenham journey to Man Utd subsequent Sunday within the WSL, kick-off at 12pm.

Leicester subsequent face a visit to Arsenal on the identical afternoon, kick-off at 2pm.