London City Lionesses and Leicester City Women came from behind to beat lower division hosts in the Subway Women’s League Cup.
Group A: Manchester City 3-1 Everton, Nottingham Forest 2-1 Newcastle United
Manchester City made a winning start to the League Cup, as Jade Rose opened the scoring midway through the first half with a close-range finish following Leila Ouahabi’s corner. Yui Hasegawa got the second when following up a blocked effort from Vivianne Miedema. From Iman Beney’s cross it was Miedema herself who got City’s third with a header, Hikaru Kitagawa responding for Everton.
Three goals in four minutes before the hour mark, saw Beth Lumsden’s effort for Newcastle United bring Nottingham Forest replies from Aimee Claypole and Kirsty Smith.
Group B: Durham 1-1 Sheffield United*, Liverpool 5-0 Sunderland (*won shoot-out)
Liverpool ran out 5-0 winners over Sunnderland and were two up in 21 minutes, as Gemma Evans headed home Fuka Nagano’s cross and Jenna Clark got on the end of a Lily Woodham delivery. Risa Shimizu got the third before half time with an angled lob. Sophie Haug took just seconds of her return from injury to tap in the fourth, before nodding in her second as Clark headed on a corner.
Joy Ralph headed Sheffield United one up but Durham forced an own-goal close to the interval. With no addition to the score, it went to penalties for the extra point which Sheffield took 3-2 with emergency signing Katie Keane making a decisive save.
Group C: Charlton Athletic 1-5 West Ham United, Portsmouth 0-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
West Ham came away from The Valley 5-1 victors over Charlton. Ffion Morgan was set up Halle Houssein to give them the lead from the edge of the box. Manuela Pavi doubled the lead only three minutes after coming off the bench, netting from distance. Katie Bradley pulled one back after her penalty had been saved but Leila Wandeler struck from 30 yards. Sarah Brasero-Carreira and Shekiera Martinez adding oen each.
Brighton won the south coast clash away to Portsmouth, Carla Camacho took just four minutes to score, Marissa Olislagers doubling the advantage assisted by Bex Rayner.
Group D: Crystal Palace 1-2 London City Lionesses, Ipswich Town 1-5 Leicester City
London City had to come from behid to beat Crystal Palace. The Eagles took an early lead as Ashleigh Weerden netted adied by Elise Hughes, London City levelling straight after half time through Sanni Franssi. Nikita Parris had the Lionesses in front with a dozen minutes to play.
Leicester City overcame a setback to win 5-1 over Ipswich at Colchester United FC. Ruby Seaby was played in by Maddie Earl to score for Ipswich approaching the interval, only for Leicester to level through Shannon O’Brien in first-half added time. Two minutes after the resumption, substitute Asmita Ale completed the turnaround for the Foxes with the help of Jutta Rantala, who later delivered a free-kick for Rosella Ayane to flick home. Sammy Kaczmar extended the lead to 4-1, Rantala then getting her goal.
Group E: Birmingham City* 2-2 Bristol City, Tottenham Hotspur* 0-0 Aston Villa (*won shoot-out)
Birmingham City let a 2-0 lead slip against Bristol City but won on penalties. Riya Mannu fired the Blues in front from a lay off by Lucy Quinn, who converted from the spot early in the second half. Bristol were awarded a penalty of their own just two minutes later, with Lexi Lloyd-Smith tucking it away. Olivia Johnson then pulled them level with 11 minutes to go, although Birmingham banked a bonus point from the shoot-out.
Spurs and Aston Villa played out a goalless draw, the visitors down to ten in the dying minutes after Noelle Maritz was sent off. Tottenham took the extra point 7-6 on penalties.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United all received byes to the quarter-finals.
