This will be our fourth appearance in the last eight of the competition – having progressed once to the semi-final in our last three attempts.
We reached this stage following an unbeaten group phase in the first half of the campaign, winning three games, scoring five goals and conceding just twice, and we take a look back at those three encounters…
Charlton 1-2 Spurs - 02.10.24 - The Valley
Our first game of the group phase saw us make a short to trip south-east London to face FA Women’s Championship side Charlton Athletic. We broke the deadlock inside the opening 10 minutes as Luana Buhler headed home her first goal for the Club, but that was cancelled out by Katie Bradley on the stroke of half time.
Jess Naz found the winning goal with four minutes left on the clock as she sent a powerful left-footed strike into the roof of the net to earn three points in the opening fixture.
Spurs 1-0 Aston Villa - 23.11.24 - Brisbane Road
Next up in the competition was the visit of fellow Barclays Women’s Super League side Aston Villa to Brisbane Road and it took a moment of magic to secure our second win in the group phase. Following a highly contested hour in the capital, where opportunities were limited for both sides, Eveliina Summanen sent a powerful effort from around 40 yards out of the underside of the crossbar and into the top right corner, a goal that scooped our Goal of the Month award for November. At the other end of the pitch, goalkeeper Eleanor Heeps was handed her debut for us and put in a commanding performance to keep a clean sheet.
Crystal Palace 0-2 Spurs - 11.12.24 - VBS Community Stadium
With two wins from our first two games, we only needed a point from our visit to Crystal Palace in the final game, but a professional and mature performance saw us complete the group stage with a 100 per cent record.
Matilda Vinberg netted her first goal of the campaign, swooping home from close range after being teed up by Martha Thomas, before Araya Dennis opened her account in our colours with a superb curling effort from the edge of the box to cement our spot in the quarter-final of the competition. There was also a special moment for academy player Zara Bailey as she made her senior debut for the Club, coming on as a substitute in the closing stages of the game.