Brighton Shocks Arsenal to Reach Women's FA Cup Semis; Liverpool Edges Past Charlton
Brighton stunned Arsenal with a 2-0 victory in the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals at Meadow Park, eliminating the European champions. The Gunners had an early setback when Stina Blackstenius had a goal disallowed for a foul. Just three minutes into the second half, Madison Haley seized a pass from Fran Kirby and scored, shifting the momentum in favor of the underdogs. Kirby continued to shine, providing another assist in the 63rd minute. Her corner kick found Caitlin Hayes, who headed the ball past Daphne van Domselaar, solidifying Brighton's lead and ensuring their place in the semi-finals for the fourth time in history. Despite a strong performance against Chelsea in the Champions League earlier that week, Arsenal struggled to maintain their form, with head coach Renee Slegers making six changes to the lineup. “It is so special,” Kirby expressed to TNT Sports. “We knew we could come here and get a result, but to do it against a team like Arsenal, who have quality all over, is really special. I'm so proud of all of the team.” In another quarter-final clash, Liverpool secured a narrow 1-0 win against Charlton after extra-time. Zara Shaw, returning from injury, netted the decisive goal with just five minutes remaining in the match. Charlton's impressive defense held against the pressure from Gareth Taylor's side for nearly two hours, showcasing their potential as they pursue WSL promotion. The semi-final draw for the Women’s FA Cup is set for Monday at 4:30 PM, ahead of the last quarter-final match between Birmingham City and Manchester City. The remaining teams include Liverpool, Chelsea or Tottenham, Brighton, and Birmingham or Man City. The semi-final matches will take place on the weekend of May 9/10, leading up to the final on Sunday, May 31.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-04-05