Mary Fowler has found the net during normal time and in a penalty shootout, but her double still proved in vain as Manchester City were knocked out in a Women's FA Cup quarter-final shock.
The Matildas ace, who spends most of her time as a late-impact sub for City these days, must have been delighted to at last land the rare chance of a full game in a big last-eight tie at Tottenham's Brisbane Road home on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
But it turned into a bittersweet afternoon for Fowler, despite the 21-year-old striking a landmark goal for City - the 800th in their short history as one of England's powerhouse women's clubs - in just the sixth minute.
Spurs, taking advantage of City spurning a host of chances, came back to grab an equaliser in the 96th minute through captain Beth England, courtesy of a mix-up in the visitors' defence, to take the game into extra time.
It eventually came down to penalties, but though Fowler converted calmly to keep City in the tie at 3-2 down, the damage had already been done. Â Spurs keeper Rebecca Spencer had already made two saves in the shootout from England pair Alex Greenwood and Chloe Kelly.
Amy James-Turner then scored the winning penalty as Spurs won the shootout 4-3 to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
Fowler had been given her chance because City had played just 72 hours earlier in their League Cup semi-final defeat by Chelsea.
The Aussie started really sharply, linking up in a neat one-two with star striker Khadija Shaw before firing home via a big deflection.
But despite a good performance, the young Matilda will have rued another volleyed opportunity that she wasted in the first half.
In another quarter-final, Cup holders Chelsea enjoyed a welcome 1-0 win at Everton, who fielded another Matilda, Clare Wheeler.Â
Their latest Cup success came at the end of a week that had begun with Blues' star player Sam Kerr pleading not guilty to a charge of âracially aggravated harassmentâ of a London police officer in January 2023, and the club throwing their full support behind her.
Substitute Catarina Macario scored three minutes after her second-half introduction to send Chelsea through and keep alive their hopes of a unique trophy "quadruple''.
Chelsea join Spurs, Manchester United and Leicester City, who have Matildas' fullback Courtney Nevin in their ranks, in the last four.
