Aston Villa Women bowed out of the FA Women's Continental League Cup following a quarter-final defeat to Bristol City on Wednesday evening.
Ebony Salmon struck twice in three second-half minutes at Twerton Park to send the hosts through to the semi-finals of the competition.
Stine Larsen pulled a goal back for the visitors, but it was too little too late.
Despite large periods of domination, Villa lacked a cutting edge in front of goal and were left to rue several missed opportunities.
Villa did begin the game sharply, with Diana Silva looking dangerous in a false nine position.
The Portuguese attacker played on the shoulder of Bristol City's backline throughout the opening exchanges in the hopes of breaking loose, but couldn't quite find the oppportunity to do so.
Emily Syme, playing just behind Silva in attacking midfield, found herself one-one-one with the City 'keeper just shy of the 15-minute mark, but her unselfish-looking square ball to Ramona Petzelberger was slightly overhit.
Not long after, Silva was denied at point-blank range by an outstanding save from Benedicte Haaland.
The missed opportunities seemed to knock Villa back slightly, and the hosts began to grow into the game.
Salmon, ever a threat, wriggled away from Elisha N'Dow and Anita Asante but was thwarted inside the box by a determined Sian Rogers.
Salmon wasn't to be denied a second time, however.
Not long after the half-time break, the forward turned away from N'Dow once more before dispatching a left-footed shot past Rogers to give the home side the lead.
Villa were hit with both barrels when Salmon doubled the lead for the hosts just three minutes later.
A long ball forward caught the defence on their heels, and Salmon raced through to round Rogers and tap home a second.
Gemma Davies threw on four players, including Mana Iwabuchi, in search of inspiration, but her side could only muster the one goal back.
Larsen, back in the fold following a period of self-isolation in her native Denmark, nodded home an Asmita Ale cross, but it would be Villa's last meaningful opportunity on a night of 'what ifs'.
Villa: Rogers, Ale, N'Dow, Asante, Siems, Ewers (C) (Hanssen 73'), Arthur, Syme (Iwabuchi 73'), Petzelberger, Silva (Larsen 67'), Hayles (Follis 67')
Unused Subs: Weiss, West, Haigh, McLoughlin, Haywood,
Goals: Salmon (55', 58'), Larsen (86')
