MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN 4, DONCASTER ROVERS BELLES 1 (CONTINENTAL TYRES CUP QUARTER-FINAL)
City beat Doncaster to reach Continental Cup semi-final
Izzy Christiansen and Georgia Stanway put City 2-0 up
Marta Mathews pulls one back for Doncaster Rovers Belles
Late goals by Toni Duggan and Jane Ross finish the tie
Goals by Izzy Christiansen, Georgia Stanway, Toni Duggan and Jane Ross sealed a place in the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup semi-final for Manchester City Women as they left it late to make the result safe against Doncaster Rovers Belles.
Goals were expected in this match, the first competitive women’s game to be broadcast on Facebook LIVE, but the visitors provided stern resistance early on until City capitalised on their pressure and opened the scoring after 38 minutes through an Izzy Christiansen header.
The Belles threatened a comeback late in the second half after Marta Mathews had quickly reduced the deficit after substitute Stanway had extended the lead in the 76th minute.
But late goals by Duggan and Ross settled any lingering doubts and City, watched by 1,153 spectators at the City Football Academy, made it through.
Nick Cushing made four changes to the team which won at Reading midweek to extend their lead at the top of Women’s Super League 1.
With a seven point lead over second placed Chelsea, City handed starts to Marie Hourihan, Daphne Corboz, Keira Walsh and Toni Duggan and handed a rest to Karen Bardsley, Jill Scott, Georgia Stanway, and Jane Ross.
City went into this game with a purpose, but they were guilty of wayward shooting as first half chances by Nikita Parris and Daphne Corboz were wasted.
Parris in particular wasted a fine chance after ten minutes when Nicola Hobbs was sold short by an underhit backpass but the live wire attacker lashed a cross/shot off target and she continued to have poor luck with her crossing throughout.
Izzy Christiansen had the ball in the back of the net after 19 minutes when Corboz threaded her through only to have the goal chalked off for offside.
Doncaster were undone by the aerial ball in their last meeting against City but Toni Duggan’s tame header was City’s only high chance in the first half.
Duggan’s turn and shot provided the first real test for Hobbs towards the end of the first half as City struggled to carve out chances against an organised Rovers defence.
City’s opening goal came inevitably from an aerial attack, with Demi Stokes’ cross finding Christiansen for a header which looped in over Hobbs who had strayed off her line.
City tried to up the pace in the second half. Steph Houghton’s free kick was easily saved by Hobbs.
The introduction of Georgia Stanway for Nikita Parris mixed things up, with the hat trick hero going up front and Duggan switching to the left flank.
Stanway had a 65th minute shot blocked by Hobbs to win a corner while the Belles were restricted to some wayward shots of their own as they tried to create openings for an equaliser.
City were not to be denied, however, and Stanway’s 25 yard drive in the 76th minute beat Hobbs, continuing her fine scoring run, and doubled their lead.
Kasia Lipka almost replied immediately with a deflected shot to win a corner which Marta Mathews converted after a goal mouth scramble.
Duggan restored the 2 goal lead shortly afterwards when she found herself in acres of space to drove the ball past Hobbs while substitute Jane Ross pounced on a defensive error by Leandra Little to make it 4-1 after Stanway’s square pass 2 minutes from time.