Man Utd 3-2 Brighton: Red Devils reach first Women's FA Cup final
- Published
Women's FA Cup: Manchester United defeat Brighton to reach their first FA Cup final
Manchester United reached their first Women's FA Cup final with a thrilling victory over Brighton.
Second-half substitute Rachel Williams slotted past Lydia Williams in the 89th minute to settle an end-to-end game.
Brighton opened the scoring in the first half through a Mary Earps own goal, with Leah Galton equalising for the hosts shortly after the break.
Alessia Russo put United ahead but the visitors levelled through Danielle Carter - before Williams struck.
Battling Brighton push United all the way
Women's Super League leaders United overcame the division's bottom side in this cup semi-final, and have realistic ambitions of a domestic double just five years after being founded.
But they were pushed all the way by Brighton in a superb encounter, with the visitors looking reinvigorated under new manager Melissa Phillips.
Set up with two solid banks of four and looking to counter down the wings at any opportunity, they punished a United side who were off colour in the first half.
Earps, so often the hero for club and country, must add an error here to the spilled shot which led to Brazil's late equaliser in the Finalissima.
A few months out from the World Cup, this is not the time for England's number one to lose form.
She managed to get a hand to Veatriki Sarri's strike and should have made the save, but could only direct the ball into her own net.
The goalkeeper was the first player out of the tunnel after half-time, and United's players had clearly been fired up during the interval as they equalised just a minute after the restart, Galton tapping home from Ona Batlle's fine low cross.
Earps showed her ability in the second half with a fine save to tip Elisabeth Terland's shot wide, which would prove crucial by the final whistle.
Red Devils dare to dream of historic trophy
It looked as if United were on their way to Wembley when Lionesses star Russo rocketed a strike into the roof of the net from Katie Zelem's through ball with 15 minutes remaining.
But Brighton were not done. Carter - who scored the winner in the 2016 FA Cup final for Arsenal - outmuscled Millie Turner and slotted a lofted through ball into the bottom corner past Earps.
The Seagulls were well drilled and dogged in defence for long periods, but they have conceded a staggering 50 goals in 15 league games this season - and United, the WSL's top scorers, struck just as extra time loomed.
Former plasterer Williams, who was introduced for Russo in the second half, finished low past her namesake to book United's first visit to Wembley on 14 May.
For Phillips, there is plenty of evidence Brighton have the ability and spirit to preserve their WSL status over their remaining seven games.
But for United manager Marc Skinner and his team, there is the possibility of at least one piece of historic silverware - and a domestic double remains on the cards.