Manchester City Women's FA Cup run came to an end on Sunday evening following a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa. The hosts started fast as Rachel Daly twice forced a save from Ellie Roebuck in the opening stages. However, it was Villa captain Rachel Corsie who found the opener, her bullet header from a corner deflected past the goalkeeper.
City responded well to going behind, and a driving run from Lauren Hemp and a dangerous cross was headed home by Deyna Castellanos to level the scoreline.
Gareth Taylor's side came flying out the blocks in the second half with an effort cleared off the line, before Khadija Shaw hit the crossbar and then blazed an attempt over the bar.
READ MORE: Gareth Taylor makes Bunny Shaw and Erling Haaland comparison ahead of Villa clash
Chloe Kelly had a fantastic opportunity to seal the win with 10 minutes of normal time left to play, but she dragged her effort wide after breaking down the right. Villa almost snatched it in the dying moments of regular time, but Danielle Turner's header was narrowly off target.
It was Daly who broke the stalemate six minutes into extra time as she eventually turned it in from close range following a scramble in the City box. Taylor's side were unable to respond in the remaining 25 minutes and it was the hosts who progressed to the next round.
Here's how the players got on at the Poundland Bescot Stadium...
Ellie Roebuck - Huge stop in the opening minutes to deny Rachel Daly after a well-worked move from the hosts. Crucial fingertip save 10 minutes later to keep out a curling effort from Daly that was heading straight for the top corner, Villa scored from the resulting corner, though. Tipped the ball into the path of Daly for the winner. 6.
Kerstin Casparij - Cut out some dangerous balls through the lines aimed for Daly in the first half. Dispossessed by Hanson late on, but City were able to deal with the resulting chance. 6.
Laia Aleixandri - Kirsty Hanson was able to skip past her and carve out a dangerous opportunity for Villa inside the opening 10 minutes. Some crucial clearances late on as Villa themselves looked to push forward and find an opener. 6.
Alex Greenwood - Dominant in the air and comfortably won most of her headers. Booked in the second half but was composed at the back and led the back line. Beaten to the header by Anna Patten to nod it goalwards for the winner. 6.
Chloe Kelly - Some early opportunities to break forward but her crosses into the box were high and wide. Lost Corsie for Villa's opening goal. More involved second half but nobody was getting on the end of her crosses. Huge chance to seal it 10 minutes before normal time but dragged her effort wide. 6.
Deyna Castellanos - Bullet header to level the scoreline just before the break after going behind so early on. Could've had a second after the break but this time her shot from distance missed the target. 7.
Lauren Hemp - Dangerous header into the far bottom corner that was palmed away by Hannah Hampton to deny an equaliser. Her pace down the wing caused problems for the Villa back line in the first half, but City were unable to capitalise. Assist for the equaliser, a fantastic run and a perfectly weighted ball into the box. 7.
Filippa Angeldahl - Some great link-up play with Hemp in the second half that created a handful of dangerous opportunities. Carried the ball well in the middle of the park. 6.
Esme Morgan - Alert to cut out crosses when Villa did get forward in the opening stages of the game. Strong partnership with Greenwood at the back. 6.
Khadija Shaw - Relatively quiet first half, by her standards. Grew into the game as City got a foothold on proceedings shortly before halftime. Alert to any loose ball from Villa and her movement was difficult to defend against. 6.
Yui Hasegawa - A real bright spark for City, as she usually is. Able to turn and create an opening in tight spaces, her tricky footwork often caused problems for the Villa defence. 6.
READ NEXT:
England star Alex Greenwood launches her own academy in Manchester for young girls
-
United's Alessia Russo opens up to Women's Health UK on life away from football
- Marc Skinner fumes at referee decision in Manchester United title showdown vs Chelsea
- Lisa Naalsund could be Marc Skinner's secret weapon in Man United's midfield
- Khadija Shaw smashes Man City club record with seven WSL games to go