- Liverpool beat Charlton Athletic 1-0 at The Valley in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup quarter-final
- Zara Shaw, 18, scored the winner in the 115th minute
- Reds will face Brighton in the semi-final
Liverpool Women have progressed to the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals after beating Charlton Athletic, thanks to a dramatic Zara Shaw winner in the second half of extra time.
Gareth Taylor’s side locked horns with Charlton Athletic at The Valley on Sunday, 5 April, for a place in the final four of the Women’s FA Cup.
The Reds, much like their men’s counterparts, have had a difficult season, as they sit 10th in the 12-team Women’s Super League after 19 games.
Therefore, there is a lot riding on the FA Cup for Taylor side, and it was imperative that they returned from London victorious.
Liverpool Women emerge victorious at The Valley
The ladies were not going to let their league form determine their performance in the cup, as they boasted 75 per cent possession over the opponents on Sunday.
However, that is not to say that it was all smooth sailing for the visitors, with Lucia Lobato hitting the woodwork for Charlton with a header in the first half.
Despite seeing a lot of the ball and attempting 26 shots, Liverpool Women could only amass four shots on target, as opposed to the Addicks’ two.
Beata Olsson thought she had put the Merseyside-based club in front when she found the back of the net with just over 10 minutes left to play in normal time.
However, the goal was ruled out after Olsson was deemed to have strayed offside in the six-yard box.
With the scoreline remaining 0-0, the game went into extra-time.
In a remarkable turn of events, Shaw came on to make her first appearance in a little over a year, with Mia Enderby forced off with a cramp.
The substitution would turn out to be a turning point, as Shaw would go on to score the winner for Liverpool Women.
Shaw nets emotional winner for Taylor and Co.
The game was heading towards penalties when there was a scramble in front of the Charlton goal, resulting in Taylor’s side hitting both the post and the crossbar.
Fate would have it that the ball would then fall to Shaw, who would then volley it into the bottom corner to send her side into the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
The No. 36 is still only 18 years old, but has already suffered two ACL injuries – the latest keeping her out for 414 days.
Taylor was full of praise for the Scouser after the game, lauding the teenager for her hard work.
He said: “You prepare for everything but what a story for Zara Shaw. I’ve only been at the club a short while and she’s been injured for most of that while. The way she behaves and how hard-working she is with every staff member, you tell her what to do and she does it to the letter. She’s such a great girl to work with and just magical today. We’re so chuffed.”
Liverpool Women are confirmed to host Brighton in the semi-final on May 10.
