Molly Bartrip’s pass out to the flank, made in the thick of Monday night’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup fifth-round contest in Bromley, summed up Tottenham Hotspur’s approach in a tie that demanded nerve as much as quality. In a game that swung sharply in momentum, the Spurs defender’s willingness to keep the ball moving under pressure reflected the visitors’ intent to manage a difficult away test against a London City Lionesses side that refused to fade.
Tottenham struck first and looked comfortable for long stretches, taking an early lead before London City responded with a rapid second-half turnaround. The home side hit back with two goals in quick succession after the break, flipping the scoreline and putting Spurs on the edge of elimination as the match entered its final moments.
With time running out, Tottenham forced one last opening and found a dramatic equaliser from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time, sending the tie into extra time. The late leveller changed the mood entirely, rescuing Spurs from defeat and setting up a tense additional period in which both teams searched for a decisive breakthrough but could not find one.
The contest was ultimately settled in a remarkable shootout, where Tottenham held their nerve to win 9-8 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Goalkeeper Lize Kop emerged as the hero in the final sequence, helping Spurs complete a hard-earned progression to the quarter-finals after one of the most dramatic ties of the round.
For Bartrip, whose steady presence and ball circulation helped Tottenham through difficult passages, the image of her passing wide has the feel of a defining snapshot from the night: not the final kick, but the kind of composed action that keeps a team alive long enough to find one. Spurs’ reward is a quarter-final trip to Chelsea, while London City can take pride in pushing top-flight opposition all the way in an unforgettable cup tie.
