Page 20 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.5 2021-22
P. 20

The Vitality Women’s FA Cup

       After  having  been  held  over  since  the  end  of  last  season,  the
       2020-21  Vitality  Women’s  FA  Cup  finally  got  underway  once
       again with the quarter finals being played in midweek.
           Holders Manchester City played at home to Leicester
       City and were able to put their recent bad run behind them with a 6-0 victory. Man City
       got off to the best of starts when Khadija Shaw fired home in front with just 40 seconds on
       the clock and they never looked back after Vicky Losada made it two with a shot from
       outside  the  area.  Shaw  made  it  three  from  close  range  just  after  the  hour  and  Alex
       Greenwood then increased her side’s lead from the penalty spot. Shaw headed in a Jill Scott
       cross to complete her hat-trick late on and Filippa Angeldahl rounded off the scoring with
       her first for the club.
           The North London derby tie saw Arsenal play host to Tottenham Hotspur and
       this also produced an early goal, Rachel Williams firing Spurs into a third minute lead
       following a corner. Arsenal’s response was a swift one as Mana Iwabuchi soon levelled the
       scores and an own goal from Asmita Ale then put the Gunners in front for the first time.
       Caitlin Foord then scored from close range and Nikita Parris headed in the fourth just
       before  half  time.  Foord  notched  the  final  goal,  and  her  second  on  the  night,  midway
       through the second half with a clinical finish after being found by Beth Mead, completing
       a 5-1 victory.
           Chelsea’s attempts to regain the trophy gained further momentum as they ran out
       4-0 winners away to Birmingham City. However, Birmingham defended very well to
       keep the reigning WSL champions at bay until the hour mark, when Sam Kerr headed
       Chelsea  in  front.  Fran  Kirby  made  it  two,  tapping  in  the  rebound  after  Millie  Bright’s
       cross-cum-shot had come back off the bar, and before the Blues were able to recover, Kirby
       then scored her second after being set up by Jessie Fleming. Pernille Harder headed in the
       final goal in injury time to wrap up her side’s passage into the semi finals.
           It was a momentous night for Brighton & Hove Albion as they reached the last
       four for the first time in their history after winning 1-0 against Charlton Athletic, who
       were the last remaining Championship side in the competition. Jess King almost gave the
       Addicks a great start when she hit the bar but the Seagulls slowly began to take control and
       were rewarded early in the second half when Fliss Gibbons volleyed home after being teed
       up by Rinsola Babajide. Brighton were never able to add to their lead on the night and also
       needed a good save from Mia Ross to deny Megan Walsh a late equaliser, but the Seagulls
       safely saw it through to keep their best ever Cup run going.
           The draw for the semi finals was made after the Arsenal-Tottenham quarter final tie
       and produced the following ties:
                               Manchester City v Chelsea
                           Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion
           The semi finals will be played on Sunday 31st October, with the Final at Wembley
       Stadium taking place on Sunday 5th December.
           In  the  meantime,  the  2021-22  Vitality  Women’s  FA  Cup  continues  this  coming
       Sunday with the Second Round Qualifying ties taking place.

            DO YOU HAVE ANY NEWS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED?
                     IF SO, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
                           news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk
        Issue no. 5 - 30 September 2021        news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk
   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25