Sunday 14 April sees the last hurdle to a Wembley Stadium showdown in the SSE Women’s FA Cup, with Reading and West Ham bidding for a first such experience and regulars Chelsea facing a trip to Man City.
Reading v West Ham United (Wycombe Wanderers FC, 12.30) – live on BBC Red Button / BBC Sport Website
The Royals and Hammers clash with a first ever trip to Wembley for either side at stake.
Reading have been drawn at home in all their four matches in the competition this season, thrashing Keynsham Town 13-0, before edging Birmingham City 2-1 and then eliminating Manchester United in extra-time.
“We need to walk before we can run”
🗣️Manager Kelly Chambers mentions how the focus has to be on West Ham, as much as Wembley has crossed everyone’s mind…#REAvWHU pic.twitter.com/CSH3VIgmlN
— Reading FC Women (@ReadingFCWomen) April 12, 2019
Royals’ opponents West Ham had a scare before progressing past Blackburn Rovers, followed that up with a much more convincing win over another FAWNL side in Huddersfield Town and a single-goal success at Aston Villa.
WSL meetings this term ended 0-0 in Essex, while the Hammers won 2-1 in the return at Adams Park less than two months ago.
“We would love to be in the FA Cup final but we’ve got a huge game on Sunday standing in our way.” – @janeross10 https://t.co/1JMq421AM9
— West Ham United Women (@westhamwomen) April 12, 2019
Manchester City v Chelsea (Academy Stadium, 3.30pm) – live on BBC 2
Holders Chelsea are bidding for a fourth Wembley final in five years – having won two of them – while Manchester City were successful in their sole appearance in 2017.
Manchester City have been very consistent in that they have won all three ties 3-0; home to Watford and Liverpool, away to Tottenham Hotspur.
Visitors Chelsea have also yet to concede a goal, having won at Everton, knocked out Arsenal 3-0 and had a narrow 1-0 victory at Durham.
The semi-final opponents met on the opening day of the campaign for a goalless draw in London, before again sharing the points (2-2) at the Academy Stadium in February.
Last year’s semi-final win v Man City… 👌
Same again Sunday, yeah girls? 🤩 #TBT pic.twitter.com/ZkTcoctU1S
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) April 11, 2019
This season’s final will take place on Saturday 4 May at Wembley Stadium (5.30pm kick-off) with children able to attend for free. Click here to buy tickets.
Meanwhile in the FA Women’s Championship, Durham play their game in hand on second-placed Spurs when hosting Sheffield United at New Ferens Park with a noon start.
A win for the Wildcats will close the gap to a single point, with Durham home to Tottenham on the final day of the league season.
