Manchester derby defeat knocks City out of FA Cup semis | OneFootball

City’s journey in this season’s FA Cup ended in the semi-finals following a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at the Joie Stadium.

In front of over 5,000 supporters, the visitors broke the deadlock through Celine Bizet's vicious effort before Marc Skinner's team doubled their lead when Grace Clinton headed home from a corner.

City pressed for a route back into the tie and Yui Hasegawa's second-half free-kick struck the bar, but United held out for a place in Wembley's showpiece.

It means our quest for the major honour we've won three times is over and our focus has now switched to our remaining four Barclays Women's Super League matches as we vie for a place in Europe next term.

WHAT HAPPENED

A sold-out Joie Stadium provided a fitting stage for a game of immense magnitude with a cauldron of noise welcoming both teams onto the field.

It was honours even heading into the last-four tie in terms of Manchester derbies won this term with the visitors victorious in the league and the Blues triumphant in the League Cup quarter-finals.

But following a somewhat cagey opening exchange, it was Skinner’s team who broke the deadlock inside the sixth minute.

The industrious Clinton regained possession and nudged the ball to Ella Toone who then found the feet of Bizet with a precise diagonal ball before the winger steadied herself, cut onto her right and curled an unstoppable effort into the side netting.

An early body blow to our ambitions of reaching the championship final, but we responded well with Lily Murphy drilling low past the post before we were dealt a double dose of misfortune.

In the build-up to our winger's effort, Mary Fowler suffered what appeared to be a knee issue and required treatment, and with the forward getting medical attention off the field, United extended their lead.

A viciously whipped corner flashed across the six-yard box where Clinton found space to nod into the back of the net.

Cushing then shuffled his pack and deployed Kerstin Casparij on the right wing, Naomi Layzell at right-back after Fowler was brought off, and Kerolin Nicoli through the middle.

And the Brazilian almost pulled a goal back with an improvised, dipping effort which Phallon Tullis-Joyce tipped over the bar soon after.

City then enjoyed a period of possession but were almost caught on the counter when Leah Galton burst down the left and slid the ball to Bizet, who was bravely denied at close-range by Khiara Keating's feet.

Similar to the WSL meeting in January, the visitors had a lead to protect before the interval and solidified their defence, forcing Laia Aleixandri to sting the palms of Tullis-Joyce from range with space in the final third limited.

The intensity and tempo of proceedings dipped across the first 10 minutes after the break, but breathless end-to-end action lifted the noise and intensity on and off the pitch.

United drove down the right and the ball was drilled into Elisabeth Terland’s feet, who swept over before Kerolin Nicoli weaved down the left and moved centrally to win a foul on the edge of the box.

From the resultant free-kick, Hasegawa curled towards the top corner before Tullis-Joyce spectacularly tipped onto the bar before recovering in time to save Murphy’s follow up with her feet.

But it was City who were thanking our defence shortly after when Clinton beat the offside trap and saw her effort turned off the line by Layzell before Keating stood tall and thwarted a thunderous rebound.

The closing stages followed that of the first half with United defending valiantly and City unable to fashion clear-cut chances as frustration grew.

The Blues commitment to fighting until the final whistle continued but a place in a fifth FA Cup final evaded us as the visitors saw out the victory.

HOW WE LINED UP

Khiara Keating’s goal was protected by a back four of Kerstin Casparij, Gracie Prior, Leila Ouahabi and Laia Aleixandri who returned to the field after overcoming a hamstring issue which kept her out of our win over Brighton ahead of the international break.

Our midfield was anchored by Yui Hasegawa with Jess Park and Laura Coombs playing in a slightly advanced position in the engine room.

Mary Fowler then led the line with Kerolin Nicoli on the right wing and Lily Murphy on the left.

City XI: Keating, Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri (C), Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Park, Coombs, Kerolin Nicoli, Murphy (Wienroither 82'), Fowler (Layzell 25').

Unused substitutes: Yamashita, Startup, Oyama, Lewis.

Manchester United XI: Tullis-Joyce, Le Tissier (C), George (Sandberg 81'), Bizet (Malard 87'), Terland, Riviere (Mannion 87'), Miyazawa, Galton, Turner, Clinton (Janssen 69'), Toone (Naalsund 81').

Unused substitutes: Rendell, Middelton-Patel, Awujo, Williams.

WHAT IT MEANS

The defeat means City’s FA Cup quest this season has ended at the semi-final stage.

UP NEXT

City are back in Barclays Women’s Super League action next week when hosting Everton at the Joie Stadium on Sunday 20 April at 13:00 (UK).