Rantala double fires Foxes into first Women’s FA Cup semi-final
Jutta Rantala scored twice as Leicester City beat Liverpool to secure a place in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals for the first time.
The hosts dominated possession and chances in the opening stages at Prenton Park, but were not as clinical as the Foxes in front of goal.
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Finland midfielder Rantala was quickest to react to a rebound for the opener, smashing the ball into the bottom corner after Janice Cayman had gone close with a curling shot off the left-hand post.
Liverpool, without a home win since mid-November, pushed forward in search of an equaliser but the Foxes remained resolute and maintained their narrow lead at half-time.
Midway through the second half Leicester punished Liverpool’s wastefulness once more as Rantala led a counter-attack before crashing home her second goal off the crossbar from the edge of the box.
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Assistant manager Jennifer Foster and first-team coach Stephen Kirby took charge of the Foxes, with manager Willie Kirk not on the touchline because he is “assisting the club with an internal process”.
Liverpool boss Matt Beard brought on fresh legs in a bid to get back in the game, but the Reds were unable to turn their dominance with the ball into goals.