On Sunday, the Adobe Women’s FA Cup showcased comebacks, an unexpected outcome, and a significant amount of excitement as 16 teams advanced to the fifth round.
Tottenham, led by Robert Vilahamn, faced a tough challenge at Brisbane Road as they fell behind 2-0 to a determined Sheffield United. A strong effort was necessary and the team displayed a remarkable comeback to get back into the match. In the end, a 96th-minute chip from Rosella Ayane secured their progress in a thrilling turn of events.
For nearly 70 minutes, it seemed that the Blades were on track to pull off a major upset. The Championship team has faced challenges this season. This match marked Jonathan Morgan’s comeback following an inquiry into a formal complaint against him in the aftermath of Maddy Cusack’s death. The club cleared him last week and he returned to the dugout after a four-month absence. The team scored an early goal through Sophie Haywood and later extended their lead with Jess Sigsworth’s goal.
Unfortunately, they were unable to withstand the strong attack from Vilahamn. After undergoing hip surgery following the World Cup, Bethany England scored her first goals, getting back on track. In just 11 minutes, the Lionesses striker scored twice to equalize before Ayane’s last-minute winning goal.
Chelsea, playing on the opposite side of London, faced a strong challenge from West Ham. They were starting to adapt to not having Sam Kerr on the team due to her ACL injury. The reigning champions needed more time to gain an advantage over their rivals from London, but ultimately prevailed with a 3-1 win.
Rehanne Skinner’s team has made signings during the winter transfer period, with two of their new players – Katrina Gorry and Shelina Zadorsky – immediately joining the starting lineup. Showing signs of new energy, they surprised their opponents by taking the lead in the first half with a traditional long ball tactic. Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold sent the ball forward for Viviane Asseyi to run onto and score.
This week, there has been a lot of discussion regarding how Chelsea can fill the void left by the irreplaceable Kerr. USA’s Mia Fishel made a strong case for taking on the role with a well-executed half-volley to equalize the game. Emma Hayes’ team ultimately secured the win in extra time, thanks to goals from Erin Cuthbert and Sjoeke Nüsken.
Wolves, a lower-ranking team, caused an upset in the round by defeating Reading, a team from the second division. Reading is facing financial difficulties, but Madison Perry gave them a positive start by scoring the opening goal.
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In recent years, wolves have strived for advancement and demonstrated determination to improve their situation. Beth Merrick and a goal from Destiney Toussaint in the 87th minute sealed their victory.
The two teams with lower rankings faced tough challenges against higher-ranked opponents in this round. Luton Town, the lowest-ranked team remaining, played against Brighton at Barton Rovers. They were down by two goals at halftime and struggled even more in the second half. Melissa Phillips’ team ultimately won 6-0.
There was a lot of excitement surrounding Moneyfields from Portsmouth as they achieved a milestone at Princes Park. This was their first time making it to this stage of the competition since their establishment in 2017. They faced a challenge against London City Lionesses from the Championship. Although Karl Watson’s team put up a strong fight, they were unable to hold off their opponents in the second half and ended up losing 4-0.
In other matches, the more experienced teams advanced, with Nottingham Forest defeating Plymouth Argyle and Birmingham City narrowly beating Burnley in overtime. The fifth round draw will be held on Monday.
Source: theguardian.com
