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Liverpool Ladies secured their place in the quarter-final of the Continental Tyres Cup thanks to goals from Natasha Dowie and Katrin Omarsdottir.

The Reds dominated from the first whistle and could have won the game by a bigger scoreline.

The home side’s first chance came in the first five minutes. Kate Longhurst got on the end of a Rosie White corner, but her effort went over the bar.

The Reds dominated the early stages of the game, but clear-cut chances were hard to come by.

Rosie White nearly got on the end of an Ashley Hodson cross and Dowie headed wide from a great long ball from Gemma Bonner.

Matt Beard’s sides first real opportunity came after 24 minutes. Bonner played Dowie in with a great long ball and Liverpool’s number nine was denied by the crossbar.

Katie Zelem had a chance in the 32nd minute, but she collided with Sunderland goalkeeper Hilde Gunn Olsen and couldn’t get her shot away.

The rebound fell to Rosie White and her shot was cleared off the line by Gemma Wilson.

Seven minutes before half-time Dowie went close again. Longhurst put in a great cross from the left side which fell to Dowie on the half-volley, but she failed to hit the target.

Just before half-time, Mayumi Pacheco and Dowie linked up well on the left side. The Reds striker then laid it off to White, but she fired over.

Early into the second half Liverpool had to deal with some sustained pressure from Sunderland.

But Dowie had another chance to put her team in the lead after Sunderland left-back Vicky Greenwell gave the ball away in her own half.

Dowie was through on goal, but Gunn Olsen tipped her shot wide.

The Sunderland goalkeeper was called into action again in the 58th minute forcing Martha Harris’ deflected effort wide.

Liverpool finally got the lead they deserved just after the hour mark with a fine header from Dowie.

The Reds striker got on the end of a wonderful corner from White.

Liverpool goalkeeper Libby Stout was alert in the 77th minute, comfortably saving a long range shot from Rachel Furness.

Stout, who didn’t have much to do in the early stages of the game, was forced to make a wonderful save to stop Sunderland equalising when tipping Mead’s curling effort over the bar.

Omarsdottir confirmed victory with a minute remaining, Dowie putting the ball on the plate for the number eight, who couldn’t miss from six yards out.

The Reds travel to Manchester City on Sunday looking to secure top spot in group two of the Conti Cup.

LIVERPOOL: Stout, Harris, Bonner, Longhurst (Murray 76), Omarsdottir, Dowie, Easton, White, Zelem (Smorsgard 65), Pachecho, Hodson (Ryland 89). Subs: Darbyshire, Dale.

SUNDERLAND: Olsen, Holmes, Bannon, Wilson, Ramshaw (Joyce 61), McDougall (Furness 61), Mead, Roche, McFadden, Chaplen, Williams (Greenwell 7). Subs: Laws, Beer.