Rachel Daly's extra-time winner powered Aston Villa into the last four of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Manchester City.
The game had looked to be heading for penalties after a hard-fought 90 minutes, but Daly popped up seven minutes into overtime to smash home from close range after Ellie Roebuck had denied Danielle Turner.
Villa had taken the lead 20 minutes into the encounter through another set-piece, this time a corner, which Rachel Corsie nodded home.
But City responded seven minutes before the break via a headed effort of their own, Denya Castellanos converting Lauren Hemp’s cross.
Chloe Kelly then had the best chance to seal it in regulation time, but she could only fire wider when clean through before Daly sealed the tie in extra-time.
Rachel Daly in extra-time! 🙌#WomensFACup @AVWFCOfficial pic.twitter.com/Vp0EhU3xLV
— Vitality Women's FA Cup (@VitalityWFACup) March 19, 2023
Villa started the brighter and called Roebuck into action after just nine minutes, with the England international alert to deny Daly after good work from Kirsty Hanson down the left.
City grew into the game and had their first real foray forward after a quarter of an hour courtesy of Lauren Hemp, but the winger was comfortably denied by Hannah Hampton after a surging run into the box.
To little surprise it was Daly who looked most threatening for Villa, and she forced another save from Roebuck with a speculative effort from range that required a tip over the bar from the City ‘keeper.
It was from that corner that Villa got the breakthrough, Corsie losing her marker before powering a header past Roebuck from Kenza Dali’s cross.Captain Corise heads it home 👏#WomensFACup @AVWFCOfficial pic.twitter.com/aJooWD5gbV
— Vitality Women's FA Cup (@VitalityWFACup) March 19, 2023
City then set about getting themselves back in the game, Filippa Angeldal smashed a shot over after being played in by Chloe Kelly before Hemp had a header saved by Hampton following good work out wide by Khadija Shaw.
But the visitors did get themselves level just before the break, Castellanos nodded home a Hemp cross following another trademark dribble down the left.
City began the second half on top as they looked for a lead against a side they failed to beat in the Barclays Women’s Super League this season, with only a last-ditch clearance from Corsie denying Shaw.
The best chance then fell to Kelly, who dragged her shot wide of the post when one-on-one with Hampton after being played clear through on goal by a Shaw flicked header.Pure pace from @lauren__hemp and a tricky header from @deynac18!#WomensFACup @ManCityWomen pic.twitter.com/ralEma66fu
— Vitality Women's FA Cup (@VitalityWFACup) March 19, 2023
As time ticked away towards extra time, both sides pushed for a winner with Angeldal forcing a smart save from Hampton with a shot from a narrow angle before Jordan Nobbs smashed a half-volley over the bar.
And with just seconds on the clock, Turner headed wide from six yards out after latching onto Anna Patten’s header across goal from a free kick.
As the game headed to extra-time, it was another set-piece that provided the platform for Villa’s second.
A long free kick into the box was flicked goalwards by Turner who saw her effort saved by Roebuck, but Daly was on hand at the back post to smash home the rebound at close range.
The rest of the extra period yielded few chances despite City pushing players forward in search of an equaliser, but they could come no closer than a Hayley Raso effort that went comfortably wide of the post.
