Arsenal and Liverpool are both through to the quarterfinals of the Women's FA Cup after battling past lower-league opposition on Sunday.
Arsenal reached the last eight for the first time in three years after a frustrating battle with Championship side London City Lionesses at a bitterly cold Meadow Park.
Goals from Laia Codina and Stina Blackstenius earned the Gunners passage to the next round of the competition, but London City -- owned by businesswoman Michele Kang -- vexed the heavily rotated side.
Manager Renee Slegers rested Leah Williamson, Steph Catley and Daphne van Domselaar after their League Cup exit on Thursday.
London City had the first real chance in the 28th minute as Rofiat Imuran set up Julia Roddar to weave around the defence, sending her strike inches wide of the post, but the hosts broke the deadlock five minutes later as Kyra Cooney-Cross's diagonal pinpoint cross found Codina, who headed home.
After a back-and-forth stalemate during the second half, substitute Blackstenius robbed defender Georgia Brougham of the ball before passing to Frida Maanum. Her shot was parried back to the feet of the Swede Blackstenius by goalkeeper Emily Orman, allowing her to score 50th goal for the club with ease.
Mariona Caldentey's stoppage-time strike bounced off the crossbar and appeared to have crossed the line, but was not given by referee Abigail Byrne.
Arsenal have exited the competition at this stage in the last two seasons. Chelsea, who went on to lift the trophy, knocked them out in the 2022-23 season before Manchester City thwarted their plans of two domestic cups last season. The Gunners are currently third in the Women's Super League (WSL) table, 10 points behind league leaders Chelsea.
Kang's London City are battling for promotion to the top flight, sitting second in the table, one point behind former WSL side Birmingham City, but have a game in hand.
Liverpool, meanwhile, were taken to the wire after travelling to Rugby Borough to play the Women's National League South team, two divisions below Matt Beard's side.
Rugby's deep block held firm for the opening 45 minutes, with Liverpool's growing frustration made evident by Bear making four changes at half-time as they struggled to break down the opposition.
Even after the break, Rugby had an excellent chance to take the lead through Angelina Nixon, who dribbled expertly past a number of defenders before her strike was blocked by Rachel Laws.
Eventually Liverpool's pressure told, though it required a strike of real quality from Marie Hobinger to beat the goalkeeper from 25 yards out in the 84th minute. Mia Enderby doubled the lead in the game's closing moments, latching on to a fine pass from Hobinger and finishing with aplomb.
Elsewhere, Manchester City knocked out Leicester City with an easy 3-1 win that saw Khadija "Bunny" Shaw return to the side and score after missing their Subway Cup semifinal win against Arsenal in the wake of racist and misogynistic abuse she was sent after the WSL defeat to the same opposition last Sunday.
Chelsea's pursuit of the perfect campaign also continued as they beat Everton 4-1 after going behind early.