Sunday 26th March
SSE WOMEN’S FA CUP QUARTER-FINALS
Birmingham City 1-0 Arsenal (Att: 514)
Chelsea 5-1 Sunderland (Att: 682)
Bristol City 1-2 Manchester City
Liverpool 2-0 Notts County (Att: 302)
(Q-F winners receive £4,000 prize money)
Berger Helps Birmingham Beat Gunners
Birmingham City custodian Ann-Katrin Berger managed to keep a cleansheet, as Blues’ signing from Bayer Levekusen – Marisa Ewers – grabbed the only goal of the game.
Sari van Veenendaal had to make an early stop after Freda Ayisi teed up Ellen White.
Kim Little was in on goal but opted to go past goalkeeper Berger rather than shooting.
Minutes later, Berger made another save denying Danielle van de Donk after a lay-off from Jodie Taylor.
With 15 minutes left, there was a big chance for Arsenal when the ball fell nicely for Jordan Nobbs inside the area but her volley was narrowly wide.
Two minutes laterm it was the Blues who broke the deadlock, as Ellie Brazil cut the ball back for Marisa Ewers to strike the ball into the top corner.
City might have made sure late on but White’s lob dropped over both keeper and the bar.
Pictured top – Karys Harrop congratulates Marisa Ewers on her goal.
Man City Leave It Late
A deflected effort 2 minutes from time gave Champions League quarter-finalists Manchester City victory at promoted Bristol City.
Steph Houghton gets Man City’s opener.
Seven minutes in, Tessel Middag was thwarted by Vixens’ keeper Caitlin Leach but the ball was hooked back across goal and headed in by Steph Houghton.
Marie Hourihan soon denied Millie Turner an equaliser, with Nikita Parris setting up Toni Duggan and Georgia Stanway, only for both to miss the target.
Hourihan was called into action again as Millie Farrow bore down on goal but in the final moments of the half, Claire Emslie drilled home at the second attempt to send the hosts in level.
It took a great save by Leach to push Carli Lloyd’s effort wide and Bristol later had to clear off their own line twice in quick succession.
But with time running out, Parris’s shot from the edge of the box found its way into the bottom corner.
Bachman Brace Sets Chelsea On Course
A six-minute Ramona Bachman brace overturned Sunderland’s early penalty, as Chelsea eventually ran out 5-1 winners.
The first of Ramona Bachmann’s quickfire brace
Sunderland won a free-kick and then a penalty on 17 minutes with a Claire Rafferty foul on Danielle Brown. Lucy Staniforth drove the spot-kick low and hard past Hedvig Lindahl.
Black Cats’ keeper Anke Preuss tipped a Jade Bailey effort from Karen Carney’s inswinging corner over the top but minutes before the interval, Crystal Dunn set up Bachmann to level.
On half-time, Bachmann played a one-two with Carney and steadied herself before sliding the ball into the far corner.
Chelsea’s wing-backs combined for the third goal 4 minutes after the restart, Rafferty crossing for Hannah Blundell to hit a half-volley past Preuss.
Approaching the hour mark, Blundell then combined with Carney to place a shot under the keeper.
In the last minute, Carney beat her marker and crossed into the box for Drew Spence to hit home.
Early Goals See Liverpool Through
Liverpool struck twice in the opening 18 minutes on their way to a 2-0 win over Notts County.
Natasha Harding celebrates doubling Liverpool’s lead
With just 3 minutes played, Kate Longhurst was fouled outside the County box but with the advantage played, Caroline Weir struck a low drive past Carly Telford and into the net.
Notts threatened in response; Kirsty Linnett’s driving header went the wrong side of the post, Angharad James’ free-kick was headed away by Ashley Hodson, Siobhan Chamberlain tipped Rachel Williams effort round the post and Casey Stoney headed the resulting corner off the line.
But in the 18th minute Natasha Harding doubled the lead, racing onto a through ball and curling it around the keeper.
Gemma Bonner cleared off the line as Notts were unable to capitalise on plenty of possession in the box and at the other end, Shanice van de Sanden’s run and cut back saw Longhurst fire inches over the crossbar/
Into the last quarter of the game and Linnett was close again, her low effort from Williams’ cross blocked, as the visitors were unable to reduce the deficit.
All photos: The FA via Getty Images
The semi-final draw will be made on BBC 5live at 2.45pm on Monday 27th March..
