Sunday April 17th
SSE WOMEN’S FA CUP SEMI-FINALS
Arsenal 7-0 Sunderland (Att: 902)
The Gunners had Emma Mitchell dismissed for a second caution on 33 minutes but Danielle van de Donk gave the hosts the lead 6 minutes before the break.
Arsenal doubled their lead 10 minutes after the restart, Danielle Carter nipping in at the near post to finish off a free-flowing move.
Sunderland’s Rachel Furness was denied when Sari van Veendendaal tipped her free kick over the bar but the visitors then had Abby Holmes sent off for a foul on Van de Donk and Fara Williams converted the resulting penalty.
Van De Donk then made it 4-0 from a ball across the box by Natalia Pablos Sanchon and with 8 minutes left, Jordan Nobbs broke away and knocked the ball round keeper Rachel Laws before calmly slotting home.
There was still time for Van de Donk to complete her hat-trick with a deflected chip past Laws and then Carter to get her second goal.
Pictured – Arsenal’s Danielle Carter under pressure from Sunderland. (Photo: The FA via Getty Images)
Chelsea 2-1(aet) Manchester City (Att: 2,278)
Man City twice went close but Hedvig Lindahl made a brave stop and Kosovare Asllani then shot just wide.
Hannah Blundell threatened at the other end, her half-volley creeping just wide after a prolonged spell of pressure.
City’s Steph Houghton took a free-kick in a very dangerous position but Lindahl pulled off a fine save.
A Karen Carney header from Blundell’s cross went wide off Lucy Bronze but then Man City took the lead as Jane Ross finished from close range after Toni Duggan’s shot was kept out.
With time running out, Ji So-Yun forced the extra half-hour when scoring direct from a free-kick.
Eniola Aluko and Fran Kirby combined well but the former drilled her shot straight at City keeper Karen Bardsley.
Gemma Davison was inches away for Chelsea in the second period of extra-time, as the home side piled on the pressure.
Jill Scott responded for City, forcing Lindahl to smother he header on the line but in the very last minute, Kirby ghosted beyond the City defence to coolly net the winner.
This year’s final will take place at Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Saturday 14 May (2pm KO) and thanks to the FA’s partnership with SSE, all children will be able to attend for free.
Adult tickets are priced £15 and group booking and charter standard discounts are also available from www.TheFA.com/Tickets.
Pictured top – Celebrations after Fran Kirby’s last-gasp winner. (Photo – TheFA via Getty Images)
