Patient and poised play from Gareth Taylor’s side saw them book their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup after 16 minutes. Seven goals from four different goal scorers and a hat-trick for Khadija Shaw saw them secure a 7-0 win at the Academy stadium.
Chloe Kelly started the goal rush early when she danced around goalkeeper Nina Wilson before tapping the ball to Khadija Shaw to finish from close range. Kelly then doubled the lead with a back post volley when Julie Blakstad fired a cross from the left flank.
The number nine got her second assist of the game on the counterattack from Shaw, who pushed the ball into her path for Kelly to drive into the box. Her perfectly timed cross on the deck was met with Deyna Castellanos on the turn, to tap it home for the three-goal cushion before the break.
Shortly after half-time, the Sky Blues taunted the second-tier side with their passing play that led to Shaw’s second goal, a pass into the bottom left corner beat the keeper to a delayed crowd response, but no one noticed it rolled in the back of the net.
Blakstad continued the goal-fest with two goals, her strike into the top right corner at the hour mark was followed by a tap-in from a fumble in the attacking box to make it a six-goal lead. Shaw then secured her treble and the seven-goal win without reply, just minutes before the full time whistle with a firebolt strike.
Despite the Blades competing in the tier below, they came out determined to put the Citizens under pressure but were overcome by the Citizen’s defensive discipline and sheer dominance in the centre of the park, which didn't give Sheffield an inch.
The visitors came deceptively overloaded in the midfield when under attack, both fullbacks Laia Aleixandri and Leila Ouahabi pushed up and inside to keep the ball contained in Sheffield’s half - in complete contrast to their last fixture on home turf against Aston Villa.
Player ratings
Ellie Roebuck - Barely touched the ball and kept warm but wasn't called upon in either half. She kept warm and focused for the entirety of the 90 minutes though. 6
Laia Aleixandri - Played out on the right and didn't look too comfortable picking the wide option each time she played the ball out. 7
Alex Greenwood © - Effortlessly nicked the ball from the feet of Mia Enderby on the attack and stood defensively very well. Clearly organised the back line and was the anchor for the defensive line to pivot from. Kept the calm poised play and didn't force the ball instead drew out the visitors and expose gaps so easily. 8
Chloe Kelly - On form from the whistle, Kelly charged down the right flank for the first attempt on goal. Her threatening unpredictability of what she will do with the ball meant she got two assists in the game and was rewarded with a goal herself before the break. 9
Deyna Castellanos - Part of the middle trio that controlled the game, covered the left flank well at the start of the game but drifted further middle leaving Ouahabi one-on-one with an attacker. Cleaned up so well in the middle though, very strong and dominant. 8
Filippa Angeldahl - Stepped in and stepped up the middle of the park, her early through ball gave Chloe Kelly a run at goal and was unlucky to not get the penalty call in the opening minutes. Fast feet and confidence on the ball with perfectly timed runs into the box to link up with Kelly. 8
Leila Ouahabi - Had her work cut out with Mia Enderby who she managed to outpace but was often left to deal with her 1-1 when Castellanos or Balkstad was pulled too high. More energy and urgency from the lefty back but didn't get forward as much with the ball. 7
Khadija Shaw - Broke stalemate with a tap-in at close range, her work rate and movement caused problems for Sheffield, she came deep, laid off the ball and rolled off the defender's shoulder to help start and finish several attacking opportunities. Got a well-deserved hat-trick. 9
Yui Hasegawa - Despite getting nudged in the back every time she touched the ball, stayed calm, composed and dominated the middle. Always ready for the second ball and already decided where it should go without having to look up proving to play too fast for the opposition. 8
Alanna Kennedy - Carried the ball from the back line very well, attacking the space in the middle, although often slowed the game down to assess her options. But a much stronger performance than the last time she took to the Academy Stadium against Aston Villa. 7
Julie Blakstad - Ran into trouble on the left flank, didn’t have much joy when cutting in but was always in space. Struggled with chasing over-hit balls but as the visitors started to tire she danced around the defender and provided the cross to assist Kelly’s volley into the back of the net before scoring herself, twice, in the second half. 8
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