FA Cup

FRAN KIRBY says scoring at Wembley felt like a ‘dream’ – as Chelsea beat Arsenal to clinch the 2018 FA Cup. And the England ace is relishing the chance to repeat that feat when the sides face off at the stadium later today, live on BBC1.
Fran Kirby hopes to score against Arsenal at Wembley after netting against the Gunners in the 2018 FA Cup finalCredit: REUTERS
The two WSL title chasers will battle out in this year’s delayed FA Cup Final, with the game pushed back to December due to the Covid pandemic.
And Chelsea will be hoping for a rerun of their 3-1 Cup win in 2018, with Kirby netting their third goal.
The Blues ace, 28, said: “Wembley is a stadium you dream about scoring in when you’re growing up.
“To be able to do it is a dream come true. I really enjoyed that final back in 2018.
“I recall that moment they scored in the second half and there was a bit of pressure with me thinking are they going to come back and get another one.
“But I was really pleased to score there, it was an honour.”
Scoring for the Blues has not been too much of an issue for Kirby of late.

The playmaker passed the 100-goal mark for the WSL champions in November.
Her brace in the 5-0 demolition of Birmingham saw her become Chelsea Women’s all-time top scorer.
And it’s an achievement that the Reading-born forward is particularly proud of following her battles with injuries and the heart condition pericarditis.
Kirby said: “I think a lot of my time at this club has been cut short because of injury and illness.
“So for me to be able to score 100 goals is really, really special.
“I think from everyone’s reaction because you can see how happy people were for me. I was super proud to do it.”
Among those who will be at Wembley cheering on Kirby and her team-mates is the former Blues skipper Katie Chapman.
The ex-Fulham, Charlton and Arsenal ace, who played in her first FA Cup final at 14, will be among the Cup-winning captains being celebrated at Wembley later as part of the contest’s 50th anniversary.
Katie Chapman says it was daunting to play the Cup final at Wembley in 2015Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Emma Hayes’ side defeated Notts County 1-0 with Ji So-yun netting the winner.
And the London-born Blues star has fond memories of the moment she made history as the first skipper to lift the Women’s FA Cup at Wembley.
Chapman said: “It was quite daunting, and it was also really exciting because it’s the home of English football.
“Before then female players had never had the opportunity to play the Cup final there and to have it at Wembley every year now is fantastic for the women’s game.
“Being the captain, my mindset was, I want to be the one walking up those stairs to pick up the trophy.”
A win for Chelsea would see them achieve a delayed treble following their WSL and League Cup triumphs earlier this year.
But a victory for their London rivals Arsenal would see them pick up their 15th FA Cup trophy.
Arsenal will be hoping to win their first major trophy under Jonas Eidevall at the FA Cup finalCredit: Getty
It would also be a first under new manager Jonas Eidevall. The club currently holds the record for the highest number of trophy wins in this competition.
The Swede, 38, spoke about his fear of black cats when asked, ahead of the final, if he had any superstitions.
Eidevall joked: “I do have some superstitions. I don’t like letting black cats cross my way . . . ever.
“If Emma Hayes sees us arrive, she will probably buy a thousand cats with all the money they have at Chelsea.
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ARSENAL toppled stubborn Brighton to set up an all-London FA Cup final with Chelsea in December.Two goals in four minutes from Kim Little and Beth Mead and a strike from Leah Williamson secured a gritty 3-0 win at Meadow Park.
Beth Mead scored as Arsenal beat Brighton 3-0 to set up an FA Cup final with rivals ChelseaCredit: Getty
Captain Kim Little opened the scoring for Gunners in the second halfCredit: Reuters
The North London giants will be keen to avenge the 3-1 loss they endured in the last FA Cup final clash between the top tier’s top dogs.
Mead told BBC Sport: “We had the disappointment last time myself included. 
“What a feeling (it would be) to go and win an FA Cup, one of the biggest trophies in the women’s game and the men’s game. 
“It will be a good game. Hopefully, we can try and get the win.”
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall said: “The closest I’ve come to being at Wembley was when I bought tickets for Adele a few years ago but then my wife and I couldn’t go. I’m definitely going this time.
“It feels a little bit surreal, to be honest. I never imagined having the chance to receive a trophy or success so so quickly, so really feels like a great opportunity for us to go there and compete.
“I’m really enjoying watching us play at the moment. I think we play some exciting football.
“Apart from the Barcelona game, I think we have scored at least three goals in every game that we played so far in competitive games.”

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Brighton, who were appearing in a cup semi-final for the first time in 45 years, have developed a reputation as a tough team to breakdown.
And this proved that to be the case in the opening period at Meadow Park with the Seagulls keeping the scoreline level in the first half.
One of the earliest Arsenal efforts came via Beth Mead in the eighth minute with the forward showing quick feet to send a Seagulls defender sliding on the turf before the ball was hoofed out of danger.
And moments later Brighton attempted to counter with ex-Gunner Danielle Carter latching on to a long pass from Megan Walsh, before Jen Beattie got the ball away.
Ex-Arsenal ace Danielle Carter was Brighton’s most dangerous threatCredit: Getty
Arsenal had a decent shot on goal a little later with Jordan Nobbs’ angled strike being comfortably caught by Walsh.
And the hosts had an excellent chance of going in front minutes before half-time with Albion skipper Victoria Williams clearing Nikita Parris’ goal-bound header off the line.
The second half saw the floodgates open for Arsenal netting twice in five minutes with Mead wrong-footing her marker to tee up Little the 48th minute.
And the in-form Lionesses forward got on the score sheet moments later nutmegging Maya Le Tissier to slot the ball home past Walsh.
Brighton, who brought on Emma Koivisto in the second-half, came close to netting themselves shortly after, with the Finland full-back firing narrowly wide in the 60th minute.
Leah Williamson got on the scoresheet for the hosts heading in their third goal against AlbionCredit: Reuters
But the hosts crushed any hopes of an Albion comeback with Leah Williamson’s bullet header sealing a 3-0 victory and a trip to Wembley for Jonas Eidevall’s side.
Of the game, Hope Powell said: “When we got the ball, we turned over too quickly and too cheaply, but I’m very proud at the way we committed ourselves.
“We tried, we kept running for the 90 minutes but on the day, we were just beaten by a better team.”
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NIKITA PARRIS and Mana Iwabuchi turned on the style as Arsenal survived a Women’s FA Cup scare before putting Tottenham to the sword. The duo combined to clinical effect with Caitlin Foord with the trio netting four goals as the WSL leaders claimed their semi-finals spot in a 5-1 win.
Nikita Parris was on target with a goal close to half-time during Arsenal’s defeat of TottenhamCredit: Getty
Mana Iwabuchi netted as the Gunners progressed to the semi-finals of this year’s delayed Women’s FA CupCredit: Getty
The result saw Arsenal go unbeaten in 19 games across all competitions since losing to Chelsea in February.
And it brought them a step closer to their dream of winning the contest for the fifteenth time with a semi-final duel with Brighton next. 
Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall said: “It feels like we’re scoring a lot at the moment, and we look so threatening in our offence, but I think we can be a lot better still. 
“But from a results perspective and the way we look in attack sometimes it’s excellent, but I still think there are some areas we can improve.
“I think it’s about the consistency, to be honest.
“We’re at a really, really high level, but there are maybe one or two percentages we can get better at. It’s more about being consistent over 90 minutes
Rehanne Skinner’s gutsy Spurs side – currently unbeaten in the league – began the game brightly taking the fight to their hosts. 
And they momentarily silenced the home fans with Rachel Williams walloping home a left-footed fifth-minute strike past an outstretched Lydia Williams. 

Such was the strength of Arsenal’s attacking ranks that Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall was able to rest in-form aces Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema and skipper Kim Little.
And the trio of Nikita Parris, Mana Iwabuchi and Tobin Heath who all started proved to be just as deadly in attack.
And it was England forward Parris who came close to levelling for the home side as she jinked her way into the box before her sixth-minute shot was blocked. 
But the slim lead of Skinner’s players evaporated when Iwabuchi showed some deft control as she squeezed the ball past Josie Green to thump in Arsenal’s equaliser. 
Rachel Williams stunned the hosts with an early opener for TottenhamCredit: Getty
The Gunners, now dominating their opponents, took the lead moments after the half-hour mark.
This came via a dangerous Heath cross from the left bouncing into the goal off Tottenham starlet Asmita Hayle.
And Arsenal increased their tally to three in the thirty-third minute courtesy of Caitlin Foord’s first of the evening. 
The Australian netted off the back of a Nikita Parris’s cross following a lovely one-two between Iwabuchi and Parris on the edge of the 18-yard box. 
There was no let-up from the hosts who were relentless in attack in the first half’s closing stages. 
Their fourth goal came through Parris heading the ball home over Spence in the forty-fourth minute. 
Caitlin Foord nabbed a brace for ArsenalCredit: Getty
The second half saw summer signing Frida Maanum come on for Lia Walti. 
The Norway international came close to nabbing her first Women’s FA Cup goal sending a shot past Spence’s post. 
Chioma Ubogagu came close reducing the deficit for Tottenham forcing keeper Williams to palm her bottom left shot out of danger. 
But the visitors conceded again when Caitlin Foord poked home her second of the evening following a pinpoint cross from substitute Beth Mead. 
And the Gunners saw out the 5-1 win ahead of their league clash against Aston Villa next following by their Champions League duel with Barcelona. 
Tottenham are looking to bounce back from their loss by maintaining their unbeaten run in the WSL
And they have a trip to Leicester up next with the Foxes yet to pick up a win in the top-flight.
Rehanne Skinner says Tottenham will turn their attention to their match against Leicester next in the leagueCredit: PA
Skinner said: “Arsenal are a fantastic side and we’re in a growth phase where we’re trying to get to the point where we can compete with that on a regular basis
“It’s a cup game anyway so it’s always got a different feel to it.
“But when we get going into the weekend, it’s certainly a big focus on the league and that’s going to be the main thing that we talk about from this point forwards. 
Women’s FA Cup Quarter-Final Results
Brighton booked their place in the final four of the Women’s FA Cup courtesy of a 1-0 win against Charlton. 
Fliss Gibbons sealed Albion’s victory with a bottom corner volley with the Seagulls facing Arsenal in the semis. 
Elsewhere Manchester City bounced back from their injury woes with a thumping defeat of Leicester. 
A Khadija Shaw hat-trick and a Vicky Losada boomer were among the goals netted in a 6-0 win for Gareth Taylor’s side 
Meanwhile, Chelsea knocked four past as set up a semi-final clash with Man City. 
Goals included a second-half brace from Fran Kirby and an injury-time effort from Pernille Harder.

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GARETH TAYLOR hit out at late changes to Women’s FA Cup player registration rules that have affected his injury-hit Manchester City squad.Coordinators of the contest, delayed from last term, say quarter-final teams can register three new players who took part in the competition at an earlier point.
Gareth Taylor says information on player registration changes for the Women’s FA Cup has come too lateCredit: Getty
However, players cannot feature if their former clubs are still involved in the competition.
This means City’s former Arsenal and Tottenham aces Ruby Mace and Alanna Kennedy will not be part of their club’s clash with Leicester this evening.
Taylor told reporters: “We didn’t get the information until really, really recently, which causes us kind of even more frustration.
“Getting that information to us a little bit quicker would help. It has come super late.
“I think it’s wanting to know that information sooner rather than later.”
The rule comes as a blow to City with the side currently battling with injuries.
The club had eight first-team members unavailable for their last league match which ended in a 5-0 away loss to Arsenal, their heaviest defeat in the Women’s Super League.

Players currently out of action include skipper Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze, Ellie Roebuck, Karen Bardsley and Chloe Kelly.
The Academy Stadium side, who lost three of their last four matches across all competitions, will be looking to bounce back against Leicester.
And Foxes forward Jess Sigsworth says her side will approach the game with no fear.
I know last season when Leicester played City, they only lost 2-1. We’re so excited to go and play themJess Sigsworth
The former Man United striker and her Leicester team-mates are yet to pick up points in the WSL having lost their opening three league matches.
But they hope to give Man City a run for their money on their rivals’ home turf.
Sigsworth said:  “This is where we know we can put things right. We can go and showcase what we can actually do.
“And then we can go into Sunday against Spurs confident and hopefully take all three points there.
Jess Sigsworth says Leicester will approach their match against Man City with ‘no fear’Credit: Getty
“We’re going with no fear, all we’re doing is looking forward to it now.
“This team can do really well against them. I know last season when Leicester played City, they only lost 2-1. We’re so excited to go and play them.
“Unfortunately for Man City, they have got a few injuries. It’s never nice when players get injuries, but it may be a good time for us to play them.”

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