Match Report
Conti Cup: Leicester City v Manchester City
Filipa Angeldahl books Manchester City's place in the quarter-finals as the Citizens overcome a resistant Leicester City
Plumb Images
21 January 2023
Manchester City left it late as Filippa Angeldahl broke the deadlock in the last few minutes to prevent the game from going to penalties. City will now face Bristol City in the quarter-finals as they look for consecutive Continental Cup titles.
Â
Willie Kirk made four changes to his side that beat Brighton at the weekend, which earnt them their first league points of the season. 17-year-old Ava Baker came into the side for her second start of the season.
Â
Gareth Taylor named a much-changed side to the one which beat West Ham on Sunday evening, with only Leila Ouahabi keeping her place. Captain Steph Houghton returned to defence, with Ruby Mace making her first start of the season.
Â
Knowing only a win would be enough to take them through to the quarter-finals Leicester started on the front foot. An early chance fell to Baker just two minutes in, who converted but it was chalked off for offside.
Â
Inevitably City grew into the game with time controlling most of the possession albeit slightly carelessly.
Â
Taylor’s side came closest on the half-hour mark when Kerstin Casparij drove down the right side and delivered a low teasing ball across goal. Australian international, Mary Fowler beat her marker at the near post, but the shot was just high off the crossbar.
Â
The Citizens continued to threaten, and Fowler had another chance but this time a deflection took it wide of the goal.
Â
Leicester finished the half the stronger of the two teams as they had a flurry of good chances. The Foxes went closest when Molly Pike met a deep cross from the left side but volleyed it into the hands of MacIver who did well to stand her ground.
Â
HT: 0-0
Â
Taylor made an early substitution as Esme Morgan replaced Leila Ouahabi at halftime.
Â
The home side started the half strong, as Baker’s long-range effort went just wide of the post.
Â
A triple substitution was made by Taylor as Yui Hasegawa, Deyna Castellanos and Laura Coombs replaced Ruby Mace, Vicky Losada and Kerstin Casparij.
Â
City’s best chance fell to Julie Blakstad who was picked out by Mace on the edge of the box, but her shot sailed over the crossbar.
Leicester, who only named three players on the bench, looked to Mackenzie Smith who replaced Hannah Cain. The away side showed their squad depth as Lauren Hemp came on to replace Blakstad after seventy minutes.
Â
Despite dominating passion City looked shaky at the back. Houghton miss timed her clearance which allowed Baker to run through at goal, but MacIver timed her tackle well to prevent an opening.
Â
Substitute, Hemp nearly made an instant impact as she made a great run and played the ball across the face of goal, but Hayley Raso arrived late and wasn’t able to make contact.
Â
City broke the deadlock in the last few minutes via Filippa Angeldahl who tapped home a cross from Hemp on the left.
Â
FT: 0-1
Â
The Citizens maintain their unbeaten run and clean sheet record in the Continental Cup and will now face Bristol City in the quarter-finals.
Â
Both teams return to WSL action this weekend. Leicester will travel to Spurs on Sunday as they look to continue their momentum from last weekend and City will host Aston Villa in an early kick-off on Saturday. City will hope to sustain the pressure at the top of the table.
Â
Line-ups
Leicester City: Levell, Tierney, Pike, Whelan (c), Simon, Howard, Cain, Plumptre, Purfield, Baker, Robinson
Substitutes: Lambourne, Smith (71’), Reavill (89’)
Â
Manchester City: MacIver, Casparij, Aleixandri, Houghton (c), Fowler, Angeldahl, Raso, Ouahabi, Losada, Mace, Blakstad
Substitutes: Roebuck, Greenwood, Coombs (64’), Kelly, Castellanos (64’),      Hemp (73’) , Morgan (45’), Hasegawa, Kennedy
Â
Goal: Angeldahl (90’)