Blues travelled to Brighton for the second time in three weeks, this time for their FA Cup quarter final match which was postponed over 6 months ago in March 2020!
Blues started the game on the front-foot and took the lead within 5 minutes. A cross from the left evaded Claudia Walker but Sarah Mayling was waiting at the back post to fire the ball into the back of the net. After having seen her free-kick against Manchester United credited as an own goal to Abbi McManus, Mayling must have felt absolutely delighted to finally get her first goal for the club.
Harriet Scott was ajudged to have fouled Brighton player Lee Geum-min in the penalty area and Brighton duly equalised from the spot. Mayling and Scott worked well together as partnership on the right hand flank and the pair combined to almost took the lead again but Scott just missed the wrong side of the post.
In the second half Blues took the lead again, this time Blues being awarded a penalty after Abbi Grant was pulled down. Mollie Green stepped up to score her first goal for the club.
Blues thought they’d won the game in normal time but conceded a goal just prior to the final whistle. However, Blues didn’t let their heads drop and as the game went into extra time they defended resolutely with Hannah Hampton pulling off some fantastic saves.
The game finished 2-2 and went to penalties. Mollie Green stepping up again to bury the ball in the back of the net. Christie Murray and Sarah Mayling also converted their penalties before Hannah Hampton denied Brighton from the spot with a fantastic save.
The final penalty was down to defender Georgia Brougham to step and take the spot kick. She booted it into the top left corner to send the Blues players (and fans following at home) into raptures. Blues were through to the semi-final of the 2020-21 FA Cup!
Blues Women Fans PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Sarah Mayling – worked really well on the right hand flank partnering with Harriet Scott to create several chances. Delighted to see her score her first goal for the club and also scored her penalty to ensure Blues progressed.