Leicester City are into the quarter-finals of this season’s FA Women’s Continental League Cup after defeating Birmingham City 6-5 on penalties at The SportNation.bet Stadium this afternoon.
The two sides played out a goalless draw after 90 minutes therefore the destination of the bonus point was to be decided by a penalty shootout which the visitors went on to win.
The first half took some time to warm up. Visiting keeper Kirstie Levell was called into action to push Chloe McCarron’s early shot round the post before Charlie Devlin lobbed Hannah Hampton and the Birmingham City goal at the other end.
Devlin had another sight of goal just after the half-hour but shot straight at Hampton before the hosts were awarded a penalty kick when Lucy Whipp’s effort was blocked by Remi Allen’s outstretched hand in the box. Mollie Green stepped up to take the spot kick but her effort was superbly kept out by Levell.
Leicester City had the final chance of the half with Lachante Paul finding space on the right side of the box but she could only fire straight at Hampton as the first period ended goalless.
Birmingham City threatened the visitors’ goal early in the second half but Claudia Walker couldn’t quite keep her shot down.
There were then two big opportunities for Leicester City to break the deadlock. First, Devlin played Paige Bailey-Gayle through on goal. The winger had plenty of time to pick her spot but instead ballooned her effort into the stands. A second chance quickly followed but Remi Allen could not convert from an Esmee de Graaf pass.
Birmingham City were made to ride their luck as Paul’s header was cleared off the line before Walker and substitute Christie Murray tested Levell in quick succession at the other end.
Devlin and Bailey-Gayle combined well throughout the match and the former played in the latter seven minutes from time but her final touch again evaded her before Levell got her body behind a Walker shot at the death as the game ended 0-0 after 90 minutes.
The two sides contested a penalty shootout to determine who was to win the group with Leicester City coming out 6-5 winners. Birmingham City have gone out of the competition as they are not one of the two best group runners-up.