Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.31 2021-22

The Vitality Women’s FA Cup

Chelsea and Manchester City will meet in the Vitality
Women's FA Cup Final for the first time after both teams
produced away victories in their respective semi finals over the
weekend.
The first semi final was played on Saturday with West Ham Utd playing host to
Manchester City at Dagenham. City were quickly out of the blocks with Ellen White firing
over the bar but at the other end, Ellie Roebuck made a fine save at full stretch to prevent
Dagny Brynjarsdottir from putting the Hammers in front.
Midway through the first half though, it was the visitors who took the lead. Keira
Walsh drilled a shot against the bar and White was on hand to tuck home the rebound.
White then headed in from a Lucy Bronze cross but the ball was adjudged to have
gone out of play, but the second came shortly afterwards as Chloe Kelly intercepted a pass
from Gilly Flaherty and planted her shot in the corner of the net. It was a sweet moment
for the striker who has missed practically all of the season through injury.
West Ham gave themselves hope just before half time when Lisa Evans raced
through and rounded Roebuck to reduced the arrears to a single goal going into the
interval.
White had another header disallowed early in the second half, this time for offside,
and the Hammers pressed hard for an equaliser with Tameka Yallop driving a shot just
wide. However, they were left with a mountain to climb when Lauren Hemp won
possession just outside the area and cut in below firing a shot past Mackenzie Arnold.
Hemp went on to put the seal on a 4-1 victory late on when she scored her second
on the day.
Arsenal were at home to holders Chelsea in the other semi final on Sunday and
the Gunners started the game well, but without really threatening the Chelsea goal in the
early stages.
Vivianne Miedema shot over from distance whilst Stina Blackstenius and Beth
Mead both looked lively but Chelsea defended stoutly to keep clear chances to a
premium. At the other end, Manuela Zinsberger saved from Niamh Charles, but the
scoreline was goalless at the interval.
Mead was narrowly off target with a shot on the turn following a cross from Steph
Catley, but two minutes later, Chelsea went in front when Guro Reiten found the top
corner with a fierce strike from the edge of the area.
Chelsea went in search of a quick second and it took a series of saves from
Zinsberger to keep them at bay until the hour mark, when Ji So-Yun kept her composure
to crash an unstoppable shot home from fifteen yards.
The game was now firmly in Chelsea’s hands and they controlled matters from that
point, with Zinsberger once more making saves to keep her side in the match. Arsenal
tried to rally with Mead going close in injury time, but Chelsea are now one step away
from keeping their hands on the trophy they won last season.
The Final will be played on Sunday 15th May at Wembley Stadium and will mark
the first time that the Emirates FA Cup and Vitality Women’s FA Cup Finals will be
played on the same weekend.
Tickets are on sale for the match, priced at £20-25 for adults, £10 concessions and
£2.50 for kids (group pricing and student tickets also available. Tickets can be purchased
online via the Football Association and Wembley Stadium websites.
Issue no. 31 - 21 April 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk