Report: United Women 2 Spurs 1
Manchester United have reached the semi-finals of the Subway Women's League Cup after beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at home.
The visitors took the lead in the first half through a Drew Spence volley which found the top corner.
However, United dominated the second half with summer signings Jess Park and Fridolina Rolfo both getting on the scoresheet.
Park's finish early on in the second 45 started our comeback with Rolfo securing victory for Marc Skinner's side late on.
It ensures the Reds end 2025 with a win in our final game of the year, and will play Arsenal in the last four of the League Cup, when the season resumes in January.
This tie came exactly seven days after last weekend's draw with Spurs in the WSL, where the Reds came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with the visitors. United pressed high early on in the game to try and force errors from the Spurs defence but the only real chance in the opening 10 minutes came from Dominique Janssen as she struck from range on her 50th appearance for the Reds. However, it was just a fraction wide.
Moments later, United were almost undone by a swift counter attack from the visitors as no one picked up the run of Bethany England through the middle. As our defence desperately tracked back, she took a shot that was brilliantly saved by the outstretched leg of Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
It was the London side that broke the deadlock though moments later following a free-kick for the visitors. United were unable to clear the ball and Spence's shot from just inside the 18-yard box found the top corner.
The Reds won a free-kick after a tussle off the ball which led to Spence receiving the first booking of the game. It was Anna Sandberg that stepped up to take it. She struck it well but it was just high of the goal. We were working our socks off to get back on level terms, Elisabeth Terland pressed and forced errors from Lize Kop between the Spurs sticks. A brilliant run from our number 10 saw another shot blocked.
A series of corners saw us rattle the crossbar again in what felt like deja vu of last weekend. Toone's lobbed shot was headed off the line and onto the woodwork. At the other end, Tottenham's chances were few and far between but they looked dangerous whenever they got a chance. Maya Le Tissier blocked a cross well and Tullis-Joyce made a save at the near post following a corner five minutes from half-time.
United were quick out the blocks in the second half as we pushed for an equaliser. Park, proving to be a really astute signing, got us back on level terms. It was last weekend's Player of the Match, Rolfo, who orchestrated the attack down the left, dancing past Ashleigh Neville and crossing it into the box where Park was arriving to guide it into the bottom corner.
Wanting to avoid extra-time and penalties, United continued our intensity. A free-kick in a promising area was taken this time by Janssen whose strike was on target but well held by the goalkeeper.
Marc Skinner was forced to make changes as his team went in search of a winner. Melvine Malard replaced Terland whilst Toone was forced off through injury with half an hour left to play.
Following a United free-kick, Janssen had a chance to take the lead for the Reds but she couldn't keep her shot down as it flew over the bar. Moments later, Rolfo came close as she shook off the Spurs defence but her shot was turned past the post for another United corner. It wasn't her only chance of the half as a free-kick delivered towards the back post by Sandberg was almost tapped in by the Swede, but it was turned behind for a corner.
A rare chance presented itself for the visitors and though Tullis-Joyce was alert to the danger and made the save, the flag was up for offside anyway. Time marched on and it was looking like this game would go to extra-time as the energy and intensity dropped.
With less than five minutes on the clock, Rolfo was rewarded for her hard work and put us in control of this fixture. It was Malard's turn to dance down the left, outfoxing Neville before finding Rolfo who coolly smashed it past Kop.
The Reds sat back but stayed in control off the ball as Spurs desperately sought to level things in injury time but ultimately the Reds had done enough to secure progression to the semi-finals.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Tullis-Joyce; Blundell (Awujo 90+1'), Le Tissier (c), Janssen, Sandberg; Zigiotti, Miyazawa; Park, Toone (Naalsund 62), Rolfo; Terland (Malard 58).
Subs not used: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, Hill, Turner, Drury, Williams.
Goals: Park 51, Rolfo 86.
Spurs: Kop; Neville, Koga, Hunt, Nilden; Summanen, Spence; Thomas (Gunning-Williams 64), Holdt (Dennis 83), Vinberg; England (c).
Subs not used: Heeps, Bartrip, Rybrink, Graham, Radbourne.
Booked: Spence, Nilden, Dennis.
Goal: Spence 16.