Leicester City qualify for FA Cup quarter-finals with six-goal victory over Birmingham City | OneFootball

Leicester City are into the quarter-finals of this season’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup after recording a 6-2 victory over Birmingham City in a fifth round tie at The Pirelli Stadium this afternoon.

Shannon O’Brien netted a brace for The Foxes while Janice Cayman, Saori Takarada, Deanne Rose and Aileen Whelan were also on target as Willie Kirk’s side overcame an ever-growing Birmingham City outfit.

The first half was an absolute thriller with both teams looking dangerous with every attack. The deadlock was broken inside two minutes when a Birmingham City free-kick was driven to the back post and Ellie Mason headed the ball across goal. The ball struck the unfortunate Missy Goodwin before creeping into the back of the net. Libby Smith then saw a shot deflect narrowly wide before both Sam Tierney and Yuka Momiki tested visiting keeper Lucy Thomas at the other end.

Leicester City levelled matters just before the 20-minute mark. A neat ball was played through to Cayman and she stuck her shot into the bottom corner of the net.

O’Brien then forced a solid save from Thomas before the forward fired Leicester City ahead with a stunning curling effort from 20 yards.

Birmingham City have long-term ambitions of returning to the Barclays Women’s Super League and they again showed their quality four minutes before half-time. Smith was played in on goal and she chipped the ball over onrushing Leicester City keeper Janina Leitzig.

The Blues weren’t back in it for long. O’Brien got her name on the scoresheet for a second time with a clinical finish. The forward found herself in on goal again in first half stoppage time but this time, Thomas was able to smother the shot.

Birmingham City looked to be the stronger side at the start of the second half but they struggled to test Leitzig in the Leicester City goal.

The Blues’ hopes of getting back into the tie were dealt a major blow when Leicester City netted a fourth goal. Takarada found the back of the net with a header from a free-kick. Birmingham City immediately made an attempt to respond but Claudia Walker’s curling strike was tipped to safety by Leitzig.

Leicester City then put further daylight between themselves and the Barclays Women’s Championship side. Substitute Rose fired a shot across goal and she found the far corner of the net.

Ava Baker and Emilia Pelgander went close for the hosts late on before another substitute, Whelan, struck a sixth Leicester City goal from close range as the contest ended 6-2.

Leicester City will learn of their Adobe Women’s FA Cup quarter-final opponents when the draw is conducted on Monday evening.