Tottenham 2-1 Leicester City: Martha Thomas scores extra-time winner

Tottenham booked their place within the Girls’s FA Cup ultimate for the primary time with a dramatic victory over Leicester Metropolis at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Jutta Rantala had put Leicester forward early with an exquisite long-range strike in regular time, earlier than Jessica Naz equalised, racing by means of to fit it previous goalkeeper Lize Kop.

Buoyed by a vibrant house crowd, Tottenham continued to push for a winner and so they virtually discovered it when Thomas’ poked effort was beautifully saved by Kop.

Ahead Rantala’s dipping free-kick was then tipped on to the underside of the crossbar by Tottenham goalkeeper Becky Spencer, however Thomas finally dealt the ultimate blow in a pulsating encounter.

It was a frenetic match, with loads of possibilities for either side, however Spurs got here out on high to create historical past for his or her membership, and they’ll meet Manchester United or Chelsea within the ultimate at Wembley on 12 Might.

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This was a large day for each golf equipment, with neither having reached this stage of the competitors earlier than, and so they had prevented final season’s finalists within the draw.

Leicester placed on free bus companies to London for his or her travelling supporters, with six coaches leaving early on Sunday morning, whereas Tube stations and trains throughout north London had been bustling with Tottenham followers.

It was the hosts who made the strongest begin, Grace Clinton and Celin Bizet linking as much as create two large possibilities which the Norwegian couldn’t capitalise on.

Minutes later Rantala punished Spurs as she minimize inside off the correct and drilled powerfully previous Spencer for the opener.

Each groups continued to create possibilities – Tottenham’s Eveliina Summanen was a menace, whereas Leicester had a golden alternative to make it 2-0 when captain Sam Tierney’s effort was blocked from shut vary.

“We scored somewhat bit earlier on and the longer it goes on, after we do not take these different possibilities, there’s at all times the chance for the opposition to construct momentum and assume they’ve an opportunity,” stated Leicester interim supervisor Jennifer Foster.

“It is disappointing when it comes to I did not assume we created sufficient actual scientific possibilities, however the possibilities we did create, we might have taken. That may have helped massively.”

Deanne Rose’s tempo gave the guests an outlet up entrance however, in Clinton, Bethany England and substitute Thomas, Tottenham at all times regarded harmful.

That finally paid off when Naz pounced on an error from Josie Inexperienced for the equaliser, and Tottenham carried that momentum into further time, identical to they did when England discovered a late equaliser of their quarter-final victory over Manchester Metropolis.

In supervisor Robert Vilahamn’s first season in cost, this can be a phenomenal achievement for Tottenham and their followers celebrated wildly on the full-time whistle, leaping to their toes to bop whereas the DJ performed membership anthems and gamers hugged one another.

Vilahamn described match-winner Thomas as somebody who “needs to shine” and praised the power his aspect confirmed to recover from the road.

“Some gamers like [pressure] and a few gamers generally is a little bit petrified of it, however she is what Tottenham represents – to dare is to do,” stated Vilahamn.

“She needs to shine in these video games and it’s the second recreation right here the place she scores a match-winning aim. I’m blissful for her as a result of she labored so onerous to get up to now in her profession.

“It reveals character and that we now have these sorts of gamers who can step in and do it for us, however primarily for herself – it’s sensible.”

Leicester, managed by Foster following the sacking of Willie Kirk amid an allegation of a player-coach relationship, have battled by means of a tricky few months for the membership and pushed Tottenham all the best way.