Manchester United, West Ham and Tottenham moved to the brink of the quarter-finals thanks to their wins in the second round of the Women’s League Cup group stage.
United and Tottenham beat fellow Barclays Women’s Super League sides Everton and Aston Villa, while West Ham got past Championship contenders London City Lionesses.
Here’s a group-by-group rundown…
GROUP A
On Wednesday, Manchester United put one foot in the quarter-finals after cruising to a 2-0 win at Everton.
Courtney Brosnan’s own-goal following a United corner gave the Red Devils the lead, before Maya le Tissier fizzed a well-timed volley from the edge of the area to bag all three points, while Everton were eliminated.
In the other game in the group, Liverpool kept their own hopes of progressing alive by seeing off Newcastle United 6-1.
Zara’s first Liverpool goal and it’s a special one 😍pic.twitter.com/wvZFlgd08f
— Liverpool FC Women (@LiverpoolFCW) November 24, 2024
Zara Shaw gave the Reds an early lead, the 17-year-old finding the top corner from range for her first-ever senior goal and Mia Enderby doubled up minutes later.
Olivia Smith made it three ten minutes before half-time and Cornelia Kapocs added a fourth from close-range as the first half drew to a close.
Enderby got her second of the match ten minutes after the break, but Amy Andrews got a late consolation for the Magpies before Leanne Kiernan made it six.
GROUP B
Durham’s strong season continued as they beat Sheffield United on penalties after they drew 1-1 in normal time at Maiden Castle.
Monique Robinson scored her first goal for United, keeping her composure to finish off a counterattack, before Eleanor Ryan-Doyle equalised for the Blues, converting Beth Hepple’s free-kick.
Anna King was Durham’s shootout hero, saving two penalties before Becky Salicki put away the winning spot-kick to send the Blues top.
Shootout scenes! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/JOeS4Yr7jA
— Durham Women FC (@DurhamWFC) November 24, 2024
Elsewhere, Blackburn Rovers pulled off a surprise 3-1 win over Sunderland thanks to a Maria Edwards brace.
Katie Kitching had given the Black Cats a deserved equaliser with half an hour left to cancel out Eleanor Hack’s first half goal.
However, Edwards struck back four minutes later and got another in stoppage time to guarantee a crucial three points.
GROUP C
Two second-half goals in as many minutes helped West Ham survive a scare against London City Lionesses as they ran out 4-1 winners.
The Championship side looked capable of springing a surprise over their WSL opponents when Sofia Jakobsson cancelled out Viviane Asseyi’s opener.
However, Manuela Pavi put the Hammers ahead with 20 minutes to spare before Asseyi got her fourth goal in the competition seconds later and Riko Ueki got a fourth in stoppage time.
Hear from our double goalscorer, Vivi Asseyi! 📲
⚒️ #WHUWFC | @wowhydrate pic.twitter.com/msiTCMcoZ3
— West Ham United Women (@westhamwomen) November 24, 2024
Emma Thompson bagged a hat-trick to help Southampton win 4-0 at south coast rivals Portsmouth.
Thompson scored twice either side of Megan Collet’s second derby goal as the Saints made a blistering start.
She then completed her hat-trick in stoppage time to give Southampton their first three points of the campaign, while Pompey’s progression hopes are over.
GROUP D
Championship leaders Birmingham City are off the mark thanks to a 3-1 win at Bristol City.
In a flurry of early goals, Lily Agg and Louanne Worsey put Birmingham 2-0 up, only for Abi Harrison to halve the deficit.
However, Simone Magill restored Birmingham’s two-goal advantage, and the Blues saw out the game with relative ease.
Three points in the #WomensLeagueCup! 🙌#BCFC pic.twitter.com/2HiNc36FGs
— Birmingham City Women (@BCFCWomen) November 24, 2024
Leicester City also kept themselves in contention after a penalty shootout victory at Brighton after a goalless 90 minutes.
In a game of few chances, the teams could not be split, but Leicester won out in spot-kicks thanks to Deanne Rose’s winning effort.
GROUP E
Eveliina Summanen’s wonder strike maintained Tottenham’s perfect start in their tense 1-0 victory over WSL rivals Aston Villa.
On the hour mark, Summanen found space around 35 yards out and found the top corner, her shot kissing the crossbar on its way in.
The result puts Tottenham on the brink of qualification, needing a point at Crystal Palace next time out to progress to the quarters.
What does the perfect goal look like?
<insert Summanen’s 40-yard screamer> pic.twitter.com/LpjuAszs84
— Tottenham Hotspur Women (@SpursWomen) November 24, 2024
Palace, meanwhile, kept their qualification hopes alive thanks to a 2-0 win at home to Charlton.
Ashleigh Weerden opened the scoring 11 minutes in before Mille Geji made it two 13 minutes later, ending Charlton’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
