Liverpool Women will host Brighton in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup semi-finals, after Zara Shaw’s extra-time heroics vs Charlton in the quarter finals, left the Reds just one win from Wembley.
It was a nervy clash in the end for the Reds, travelling to Valley, as the game had to go to extra time, before the deadlock was ultimately broken.
The hero of the day was 18-year-old scouser Zara Shaw, as the 18-year-old who has had some wretched luck with injuries, with two anterior cruciate ligaments plaguing her early career, scrambled home this scrappy winner to send Gareth Taylor’s side through to the last four.
Hailing it as a moment that makes all her injury woes “worth it”, Shaw will be hopeful she will be a difference maker in the semi-final clash to come, with Liverpool’s opponents now revealed as Brighton and Hove Albion Women.
Brighton won’t be pushovers at the semi-final stage of the esteemed competition, having just knocked out Arsenal 2-0 away from home, with all the details you need below.
All of the FA Cup details involving Liverpool
Indeed, Liverpool Women will face Brighton after the Seagulls pulled off an almighty upset by knocking out the 14-time winners Arsenal at Meadow Park.
Madison Haley and Caitlin Hayes bagged both of Brighton’s goals to secure their passage through to the semi-finals, with Fran Kirby, who assisted both of the away side’s strikes, hailing the win as a “special” one to savour.
They’ll have to beat Liverpool on the Reds’ own home soil, though, if they’re to make the Adobe FA Cup final, with the tie set to take place at the St Helens Stadium in St Helens on May 10th. Kick-off time will be confirmed in due course.
The other semi-final match-up will involve Chelsea taking on either Birmingham City or Manchester City, as Taylor and Co dream about a Cup success at Wembley.
Taylor was over the moon with his side’s grit to overcome the Addicks, after the 1-0 win at Charlton, which should stand them in good stead to beat another opponent to reach the final.
He said, when asked about what a final would mean for his determined group of players: “We just want to extend the season. It’s no secret we’ve come into some form of late. We’ve improved a lot and it’s almost as though we don’t want the season to finish.
Today we were talking four games left but we want five or we want six. We want to try to extend the season and not end because we are starting to come into a bit of form with some good results and confidence, which is big.”
The final is scheduled for the 31st of May, if Liverpool were to get there, as Taylor’s inconsistent side also attempts to rise the Women’s Super League rankings and avoid relegation, before the domestic season ends in mid-May.
