Spurs see off Lionesses to reach FA Cup fifth round

Tottenham Hotspur avoided a Women’s FA Cup banana skin as they overcame London City Lionesses in round four.

Drew Spence and Eveliina Summanen, plus an own goal from Lionesses captain Harley Bennett, completed the scoring.

This game had appeared ripe for an upset, with Spurs having lost their past five Women’s Super League matches while London City lead the Championship.

But Tottenham managed to comfortably steer themselves into the fifth-round draw on Monday evening.

WSL quality tames the Lionesses

The Lionesses had their pre-match preparations disrupted on Monday when manager Melissa Phillips left the club to join American side Angel City FC, but interim coach Nikita Runnacles had promised they would start on the front foot.

They lead the second tier in points and goals scored, and enjoyed the best of the early stages of the match on Sunday – but it was a Lioness of a different kind who opened the scoring.

Euro 2022 winner England headed Spurs ahead on 11 minutes, the January signing from WSL rivals Chelsea peeling off her marker to find space at the far post and finish Rosella Ayane’s fine cross from close range.

That goal put Spurs at ease and they held London City at bay before landing a hammer blow in first-half stoppage time.

Arsenal loanee Iwabuchi had space and time in the area to take a couple of touches and fire in her first goal for Spurs, her shot taking a crucial deflection off Bennett.

Spurs’ passage to the round of 16 was sealed three minutes after the break, Spence scoring from close range after Lionesses keeper Shae Yanez had saved well from Summanen.

The visitors were unlucky to concede a fourth, skipper Bennett seeing a cross loop off her leg and over Yanez.

However, they were sloppy for the fifth, conceding possession at the back before Nikola Karczewska unselfishly squared for Summanen to finish.