Martha Thomas struck deep into extra-time to send Tottenham Hotspur through to the Adobe Women's FA Cup final for the first time in their history with a 2-1 win over Leicester City.
The match looked destined for penalties after Jess Naz cancelled out Jutta Rantala's sublime opener for Leicester in normal time.
Rantala produced a thunderous strike to put the visitors ahead before the break but Naz levelled late in the second-half to send the game into extra-time.
The additional half an hour produced few chances until Thomas popped up two minutes from time to nod home and clinch the tie for Spurs.
Leicester almost took the lead inside three minutes after loose passing in the Spurs defence allowed Sam Tierney in on goal but her shot was narrowly wide.
Despite the early scare, Spurs started brightly and almost had their first sight of goal just a minute later after a nice flick from Drew Spence helped her release Naz on the wing but her cross could not quite find the waiting Beth England.
Build the statue.
— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) April 14, 2024
Martha Thomas is the hero for @SpursWomen 🤳#AdobeWomensFACup pic.twitter.com/nv3g7u5UZ5
That proved a sign of things to come as Spurs tested Foxes ‘keeper Lize Kop, with the Dutch ‘keeper standing strong to deny Celin Bizet after she was released in the box by Grace Clinton.
Clinton and Bizet combined again shortly after the latter robbed Leicester of the ball high up the pitch before the pair exchanged passes, but Bizet fired her shot wide of the target.
The home side were punished for those missed chances soon after, as Rantala spectacularly put Leicester ahead.
The Finnish international cut inside from the right wing before letting fly with her left foot to send her shot cannoning past Becky Spencer.
The visitors then had a chance to make it two as good work from Deanne Rose allowed the Canadian to cross and find Tierney but she failed to connect properly six yards out
Spurs continued to see most of the chances but ultimately failed to truly trouble Kop before the break, with Naz seeing the best chance after beating a defender but her shot from the edge of the box was wide.
The home side remained on top despite trailing, as they continued to see most of the ball with Eveliina Summanen and England both going close early on after the restart.
Just Jutta things 🤟
— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) April 14, 2024
Jutta Rantala with a stunner for @LCFC_Women 🤯#AdobeWomensFACup pic.twitter.com/pplryyrxsl
England cut inside and fired an effort wide from just inside the box before Summanen saw her effort go over the bar after she pounce on a loose ball in the box.
Spurs continued to probe, Naz the next to try her luck after cutting inside from the right after being picked out by Clinton but her shot was high and wide.
But Naz was on target 20 minutes later as Spurs finally found the breakthrough seven minutes from time, as she pounced on Josie Green’s failure to clear the ball to race in behind and slot her finish into the corner past Kop.
Leicester looked to respond and almost did so through Shannon O’Brien as she danced her way into the box before forcing a save at the near post from Spencer.
That goal put Spurs well into ascendency as they chased a winner, and Thomas came agonisingly close to grabbing it but her volley was tipped onto the post by Kop to ensure the contest would head to extra-time.
The first chance came from the ever-dangerous Ruttala, as she rattled the crossbar with a free-kick from the edge of the box.
It proved the only real effort on goal of what was a largely scrappy extra half an hour, as both sides began to tire until substitute Thomas headed home the winner just two minutes from time.
A cross into the box was not fully dealt with by Leicester and Thomas rose highest to nod home the second ball and send the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium into raptures.
