Laia Aleixandri netted a 74th minute winner for Manchester City in a dramatic 1-0 win at Arsenal in the Fifth Round of 2023-24 Women’s FA Cup.
Aleixandri pounced upon a deflection from Arsenal defender, Steph Catley to fire in the only goal of a tightly fought game, which proved enough to condemn Arsenal to another Fifth Round exit for a second consecutive season in this competition.
Speaking post-match to BBC about City’s clinical victory, Aleixandri commented: “I think we were amazing, we know how to attack but also how to defend against this great team – we are very happy.
“I was very excited to help the team with a goal, it is an important goal and an important win. I don’t know what to say!”
Man City have now reached the Quarter-Finals of this competition for a 11th consecutive season, and join Leicester and Tottenham who are already in the pot for the Quarter-Final draw tomorrow (12 February), live on The One Show on BBC1 in the UK from 7:20pm UK Time.
Currently separated by just three points across in the Women’s Super League in third and second positions respectively, Arsenal and Man City were always expected to be closely matched in this cup clash which proved the case from kick-off.
City however settled quicker and almost took a sixth minute lead but Lauren Hemp nodded wide from a corner.
Arsenal were yet to lose at home to Man City under Jonas Eidevall’s reins and almost punished that wasted chance eight minutes later, as Caitlin Foord cut in from the left but Khiara Keating saved the Australian’s curled shot towards the bottom-right corner.
Hemp continued to prove City’s biggest threat but fired over the bar from Chloe Kelly’s 17th minute cross as the visitors continued to largely dominate the opening half.
Arsenal’s resilient defence almost got broken in the 35th minute as Kelly’s cross was nodded upon goal by Khadija Shaw from close range, but Sabrina D’Angelo made a crucial save to keep the Gunners level into half-time.
If their first-half effort was lacklustre, Arsenal certainly came out of the blocks in the second half as Victoria Pelova met Leah Williamson’s headed interception, but the Dutch international curled her low shot wide of the bottom-left corner in the 50th minute.
Katie McCabe then saw an unintention cross-like shot towards the top-right corner saved one minute later, as Arsenal continued to up their intensity.
Alessia Russo then saw two chances blocked from corner-kicks as Arsenal continued to press just before the hour mark, whilst D’Angelo and Williamson cleared two clinical headers from Shaw up the other end mere minutes later.
Arsenal’s frustrations continued as Frida Maanum saw a 70th minute shot blocked out to Beth Mead, but the England international could only blast her shot into Kheating’s arms.
Those wasted chances soon came to haunt Eidevall’s Gunners four minutes later, as Catley deflected Kelly’s free-kick down for Aleixandri to smash in from close-range to put City on course for the Quarter-Finals – having last lost at this stage in the 2012-13 season.
Arsenal continued to press for a late equaliser to force extra time at minimum as Stina Blackstenius and Pelova saw headers blocked by Kheating.
Man City ultimately dug deep defensively in six minutes of injury-time to secure their place in the last eight of this season’s Women’s FA Cup, despite Kheating fumbling the ball over the line from a last-gasp corner which referee – Stacey Pearson ruled didn’t cross the goal line.
City’s win not only eliminated the 14-time champions but also secured their first away win over the Gunners since Eidevall took charge in North London.
What’s Next?
Arsenal head to London City Lionesses in their rearranged League Cup Quarter-Final on Wednesday 14 February at 7pm GMT.
Man City meanwhile face London opposition once again in their next match as they visit Chelsea in a top of WSL clash at Kingsmeadow on Friday 16 February, in a 7:15pm GMT kick-off.
Teams
Arsenal: Sabrina D’Angelo, Emily Fox, Leah Williamson (Codina 77′), Lotte Wubben-Moy, Katie McCabe (Catley 66′), Victoria Pelova, Kyra Cooney-Cross (Walti 77′), Beth Mead, Frida Maanum (Little 83′), Caitlin Foord, Alessia Russo (Blackstenius 66′)
Substitutes: Manuela Zinsberger, Steph Catley, Kim Little, Lia Walti, Cloe Lacasse, Stina Blackstenius, Laia Codina, Naomi Williams
Manchester City: Khiara Keating, Kerstin Casparij, Laia Aleixandri, Alex Greenwood, Leila Ouahabi, Yui Hasegawa (Kennedy 90+4′), Laura Coombs, Chloe Kelly, Jess Park (Angeldahl 86′), Lauren Hemp, Khadija Shaw (Fowler 67′)
Substitutes: Demi Stokes, Mary Fowler, Filippa Angeldahl, Esme Morgan, Sandy Maclver, Ruby Mace, Alanna Kennedy
Referee – Stacey Pearson
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