Tottenham Hotspur Women 2 Leicester City Women 1: As it happened
Leicester City Women face the biggest game in their history this afternoon, an FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur with the chance of a first ever trip to Wembley.
Leicester: Kop, Cayman, Green, Howard, Bott, Takarada, Tierney, Momiki, Rantala, Rose, Petermann
Interim manager Jennifer Foster keeps the same team that drew 2-2 at Aston Villa in the WSL last time out.
We’re trying out a first ever live blog for this big occasion.
Final score (AET): Tottenham Hotspur 2 (Naz, Thomas) Leicester City 1 (Rantala)
Well, there we are then… Back to the WSL. Who knows when LCFC Women will be back in an FA Cup semi-final? They had Wembley in their grasp, but it wasn’t to be. An epic encounter though, and a performance the coaching staff and players can be extremely proud about. We’ll have a proper match report later. If you’ve got any feedback about this first liveblog, let us know in the comments and maybe we’ll do it again some time...
120+4 mins: Finally the free kick can be taken. It creates some chaos and there’s a shot towards the empty net but it falls short. Even so, the final whistle goes and it’s heartbreak for Leicester City fans. A familiar story, even in this new ground for Leicester City Women.
120+2 mins: Petermann does brilliantly to win a free kick out wide, right in front of the travelling Leicester fans. Still a minute plus to play. Will Kop come forward for this? She will…
120 mins: Will be a couple of minutes added on here at least. Leicester have to throw everything at this now. It’s three minutes.
118 mins: Leicester have really tired and dropped back in these past few minutes. Whelan was caught under the ball from a flick-on and Thomas was able to nip in and head it over Kop.
118 mins: Goal - Tottenham Hotspur 2 (Thomas) Leicester City 1: Heartbreak.
117 mins: Tired play from Leicester at the back. Kop puts it straight out of play trying to find Bott on the right and Spurs come forward again. Thibaud hesitates, then sticks out a foot and just manages to nick it away from Grant. Corner to Tottenham…
115 mins: We’re edging towards penalties. Rantala gets on the ball but tries to force it with a crossfield pass to O’Brien which goes behind.
113 mins: Spurs have regained control of things, but they’re also struggling to create. Leicester’s subs have brought a bit more energy but there’s a lack of quality on the ball. Then a short backpass nearly gifts a goal for Petermann. Spencer gets there just in time and clears for a Leicester throw.
110 mins: Again, Leicester have had a couple of minutes of keeping Spurs in their own half without really looking like making a chance.
107 mins: Thibaud nearly caught in possession while pondering her next move ten yards from her own goal line. At the other end, Becky Spencer performs a stepover while being closed down by Aileen Whelan. Then CJ Botts overlaps brilliantly but there’s nobody on the end of her superb cross into the six-yard box. Petermann nearly got to it.
Half time in extra time: Tottenham Hotspur 1 Leicester City 1 - 15 minutes from Wembley a while ago, now it’s 15 minutes from the dreaded penalty shootout…
105 mins: Considering what’s at stake, how warm it is (alright, Brendan - Ed.) and how late we are in the season, the quality has been pretty high today (up until the finishing anyway), but tiredness in possession is really starting to show now.
104 mins: Finally not a lot happening here. Then Palmer gives it away in the centre circle when trying to spread the ball wide to O’Brien and Spurs go on the attack. Kop makes another good save at her near post. Corner to Tottenham. Which… goes straight behind before it reaches the goal. More of that please.
98 mins: The free kick’s off the bar from Rantala! Spencer did well to get something on it and it almost went back in off her into the net. When the ball comes back in, Leicester appeal for a penalty but nothing doing. Jennifer Foster is booked on the touchline for complaining about that decision. Sophie Howard claimed for the spot kick there.
97 mins: A break before this free kick as Takarada gets some treatment. Another change on the way for Leicester. Aimee Palmer is on for Takarada in the holding midfield role.
96 mins: Petermann fouled right on the edge of the area. Leicester have a free kick in a great position.
92 mins: I’m reliably informed that the sun has finally made its way round to the away end. But will Leicester be basking in a semi-final triumph in the next half hour or so? (Enough now - Ed.)
Extra-time first half kick-off: How do Leicester win this game? Two changes as Foster tries to make that happen. Aileen Whelan and Julie Thibaud are on for Yuka Momiki and Josie Green. Sensible changes. O’Brien added something extra. Whelan hasn’t got the same qualities in possession but she presses well and could force an error from tiring Tottenham defenders. O’Brien starts extra time with another great run on the left.
FULL TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 1 Leicester City 1 - we’re going to extra time…
90+5 mins: Naz almost gets beyond the back line again but Kop is out to gather. Somehow we’re back up the other end within moments and O’Brien’s dancing feet almost result in a chance. A Spurs counter attack is stopped by Bott, who goes into the book.
90+3 mins: It’s an astonishing save from Lize Kop. The corner had been cleared and recycled to the back post, Thomas took it down and shot towards the far corner but Kop managed to reach out and touch it wide. Another couple of chances follow, the second of which is put wide by Grant with Kop at full stretch. Spurs are so close to the winner.
90+2 mins: Jessica Naz with another long run down the right. Howard puts it behind for a corner.
90 mins: We’re almost into stoppage time. Spurs are pinning Leicester back here. Does Foster need to turn to her bench again? Martha Thomas heads a half-chance over the bar. Six minutes signalled.
88 mins: Superb defending from the covering CJ Bott when it looked like Grant would have a chance to win it for Tottenham. Leicester under pressure in these final few minutes.
86 mins: O’Brien does fantastically well on the halfway line, her quick feet almost presenting a chance to release Rantala. She’s fouled as she tries to get the ball away. Nothing comes from the free kick, but then O’Brien shows her footwork off to an even greater degree, getting away from two opponents and forcing Spencer to push the ball wide at her near post. Spencer claims the corner.
85 mins: Almost a turnaround in two minutes. England can’t quite reach the ball from substitute Grant.
83 mins: Goal - Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Naz) Leicester City 1 - It’s out of nowhere. Ball over the top and Josie Green makes a complete mess of her attempted clearance. Naz, who’s threatened all game on the break, is the last person Leicester wanted to be chasing back to catch there. She calmly dispatches the ball into the far corner and Spurs are level and the crowd is up.
81 mins: Petermann chases back from the centre-forward position and gives away a bit of a clumsy foul ten yards inside the Leicester half. Howard does well to deflect it behind with her head but it’s a corner for the hosts as we enter the final eight minutes… England gets her head on it at the near post but it arrows wide of the near post. Josie Green did well to put her off.
79 mins: O’Brien’s first contribution is to win a corner from Neville. Leicester are doing a great job of seeing this out at the moment. Boos from the home crowd as Rantala jogs very slowly over to take. Fair enough, surely? It’s a warm day and this game has been relentless. Low corner to the near post is cleared with Momiki threatening.
77 mins: Lots of changes. Spurs bring on Vinberg, Ahtinen and Grant for Clinton, Summanen and Nilden. Leicester’s swap is Shannon O’Brien, who has missed a lot of this season through injury, for the excellent Deanne Rose.
75 mins: 15 minutes (plus injury time - always an irritating qualifier when you’re trying to build the tension in a catchy way) until Wembley. Pelgander shoots weakly from distance and Spencer gathers that with ease. Rantala finally does get another chance to shoot but she’s 20 yards out with bodies in the way and it sails into the crowd.
72 mins: Some sustained pressure for Tottenham for the first time in 20 minutes or so. Players are definitely tiring though. Mistakes are creeping in. Leicester nearly fashion a chance for Rantala. One more clear sight of goal for the Finn and they could put this to bed…
70 mins: Almost a chance for Spurs. Early signs of tiredness in the Leicester midfield and Thomas is nearly on the end of a diagonal cross but Kop does well to come out and claim.
67 mins: Another substitution for Tottenham. Drew Spence is replaced by Kit Graham. Spence, a goalscorer last season in a 2-1 win for Tottenham at the King Power, has been a driving force through midfield today. Spurs are looking for something different because Leicester have taken hold of this game for much of the second half so far. Is there enough left in the tank?
64 mins: Superb from Deanne Rose, who’s been excellent in relieving the pressure at intervals. She sprints out of defence with the ball and draws the foul from Summanen who is rightly booked. Rose then turns Neville and tries a crossfield ball to Rantala but it’s behind for a goal kick.
62 mins: Fantastic little passage of play from Leicester, working the ball to Rantala, winning it back through Pelgander, again through Bott and eventually forcing a corner. That’s cleared and it’s Naz on the counter for the 65th time today but it’s out for a Spurs throw-in.
60 mins: The BBC commentator has just remarked that Martha Thomas hasn’t scored since 16th December. In case you were wondering who might score the equaliser. It’s all gone a bit quiet here though. Jessica Naz wafts a left-footed shot high and wide when well-placed to create something more.
58 mins: Tottenham bring on top scorer Martha Thomas in place of Celin Bizet. Leicester respond by taking off captain Sam Tierney. The armband goes to Sophie Howard and on comes Swedish youngster Emilia Pelgander, a January transfer window arrival.
55 mins: Leicester have calmed the storm for now, kept possession for a couple of minutes and broken up play, winning free kicks around the halfway line. If this was the men’s side, we’d be a couple of minutes away from conceding a goal.
53 mins: Bizet follows through with a tackle on Momiki. Some Premier League referees would give a red for that. Maybe. One of those where the foot bounces off the ball into the opponent’s knee and looks bad in slow motion.
51 mins: Update from James Knight, on location: “It’s outrageously hot in my seat, like its own microclimate”. The action is hotting up too! (Is this how these things work? - Ed.)
50 mins: Corner to Tottenham, won by Ashleigh Neville’s run down the right which was halted by Momiki. Nilden’s delivery is knocked down at the far post by Bizet for Summanen to strike. Should probably be a goal. It flies over the bar.
48 mins: Beth England shoots from outside the box but it loops just over the bar. Amanda Nilden does similar from the other side of the D soon after.
46 mins: Already a chance in the opening seconds following the interval. Rantala’s shot is blocked. Leicester have to take their chances here. Tottenham are attacking the vast, one-tier stand and the pressure will build throughout this second half.
Second half kick-off: Sadly no time to show you the photo of the smashed avocado and chilli bowl on offer in the concourse at half-time that’s just come in from one of our roving reporters. Pukka pie, it ain’t…
45 minutes from Wembley… We’re normally more emotive on TFW but that first half didn’t give much space for emotions. The interval provides a small chance for reflection.
This would be a monumental achievement if Leicester can retain this lead. It’s hard not to think about the progress the club has made over the past few years even to be playing on a stage like this. But to look as confident as they have…
Spurs will throw everything at getting back on level terms as quickly as possible in the second half. Leicester need to try to restrict those dangerous counter-attacks and close the space in midfield. Or just go and score more goals…
HALF-TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 0 Leicester City 1 - It’s a precious lead for Leicester at the break and Jennifer Foster’s side are 45 minutes away from Wembley… It’s a deserved lead in the sense that Jutta Rantala’s incisiveness is what Spurs are lacking, but there are plenty of opportunities being created by the home side and Lize Kop will be grateful for their profligacy so far.
45 mins: End to end again. Takarada plays a brilliant ball into Tierney inside the Spurs penalty area but the hosts manage to clear. Straight up the other end but it comes to nothing. Leicester can’t handle Naz on the break, and are counting on Spurs continuing their wastefulness here.
43 mins: Chance for Deanne Rose. She’s wide on the right but she had a clear sight of goal there and skewed it horribly wide.
41 mins: Rantala wins a free kick ten yards inside the Tottenham half. It’s cleared, and Drew Spence takes the ball in the face from Josie Green as Leicester try to get it back into a crowded box. Soon after, it’s a yellow for Green as she tugs Beth England back with Spurs threatening a counter. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Green was replaced - she’s given the ball away a couple of times and is now on a booking.
39 mins: What a chance for Summanen from that corner. It’s a clear header for her at the back post and she’s got slightly under it to head over the bar. Leicester go straight up the other end and there’s half a penalty shout as Rose is bundled over by Ashleigh Neville.
36 mins: Yuka Momiki has a touch of class. She does well in the build-up but Cayman can only loft her cross onto the roof of the net. Leicester had plenty of numbers forward there, with Rose moving infield to create space for Cayman’s overlap and Petermann trying to make the run through the middle. It all got a bit congested though.
There’s almost an identical situation straight afterwards with all the players concentrated within the width of the six-yard box on the edge of the area. Get someone wide in that situation and Leicester are in business. Meanwhile, Spurs break quickly and win yet another corner.
33 mins: Grace Clinton wins a free kick for Tottenham 25 yards out. Momiki and Rantala sandwiched Clinton and either could have been penalised. The referee flips a coin in her head and gives Momiki the yellow. Summanen’s free kick is punched clear, rather unconvincingly, by Kop, and the danger is over for now.
31 mins: There’s barely been time to reflect on how good that Rantala goal was. And there’s not now either… Spurs go from back to front really quickly again through Naz’s pace. Cayman doesn’t cover herself in glory, backing off and backing off. Naz’s shot drifts harmlessly wide.
28 mins: Both sets of players are going for this. Jessica Naz leads yet another Tottenham attack through the middle and plays a clever through ball to Beth England. Her attempted low cross is cleared behind and the corner comes to nothing.
27 mins: Again Leicester look to Deanne Rose and she chops onto her right foot but shoots wastefully over when there were plenty of blue shirts up in support. This game is breathless and pretty difficult to keep on top of…
26 mins: The corner goes all the way out for a goal kick. Kop came, hesitated and was fortunate there was nobody at the back post to get anything on the delivery.
24 mins: A great burst through midfield for Tottenham from Drew Spence leads to a half-chance for Jessica Naz but Kop watches as her cross goes nowhere. This game is wide open. Tottenham are back on the attack and win a corner.
22 mins: Leicester are constantly looking for the ball over the top on the left for Rose to use her pace. This time the pressure eventually leads to a corner on the other side through CJ Bott’s tenacity. Sophie Howard heads over.
19 mins: The home side’s centre-back Amy James-Turner goes into the book for a late tackle on Petermann just inside the Spurs half. Momiki’s free kick is cleared away.
16 mins: Leicester should be two ahead. It’s on Sam Tierney’s left foot but it’s a missed chance. Cayman does brilliantly to charge through midfield and release Deanne Rose on the left. Rose cuts it back and Tierney’s mishit shot is parried away by Spencer.
15 mins: It’s already clear Tottenham are going to get chances in this game. Leicester are, as always, pressing aggressively all over the pitch but Spurs have shown they’re able to play through that press and put Leicester under pressure.
12 mins: GOAL! Tottenham 0 Leicester 1 - Jutta Rantala!
Rantala was given the big build-up before this game and she’s come good already. It’s classic Rantala too, cutting in from the right and firing a shot straight through Spencer into the roof of the net. A magnificent start for Leicester thanks to the star of this team.
9 mins: Another huge chance for Spurs. They win the ball back on the halfway line and Celin Bizet runs clear in the right channel. Thankfully, she shoots wastefully over the bar. Leicester have given up two huge opportunities in this first ten minutes and need to get more of a grip on the midfield.
6 mins: Big save from Lize Kop. Amanda Nilden was one-on-one from the angle and should have done better, shooting straight at Kop. Leicester clear the resulting corner.
2 mins: Tierney has the first half-chance of the game, chipping the ball just wide after Tottenham gave the ball away at the back. Home keeper Becky Spencer raises her hand in acknowledgement at the mistake.
Kick-off: Captain Sam Tierney has led the huddle, Lena Petermann has taken the kick-off and we’re away with Leicester launching the ball forward down the left to get us started.
