Madison Haley and Caitlin Hayes found the net as Brighton delivered a superb performance to beat Arsenal 2-0 and progress to the Adobe Women’s FA Cup semi-finals.
Haley powered home a fine finish to break the deadlock three minutes into the second half before Hayes headed home the second just after the hour mark on a memorable afternoon for the visitors in Borehamwood.
Arsenal progressed to the Champions League semi-finals in midweek but despite testing Chiamaka Nnadozie on several occasions, were unable to find a breakthrough.
Brighton started strongly at the Mangata Developments Stadium, Jelena Cankovic seeing an early effort saved by Daphne van Domselaar before Charlie Rule had two attempts scrambled to safety when a corner wasn’t cleared.
Manuela Vanegas also tested Van Domselaar as the visitors continued to threaten but Arsenal gradually grew into the contest and Mariona Caldentey had their first shot on target, which was well kept out by Nnadozie.
The Albion goalkeeper then denied Smilla Holmberg with a brilliant save from point-blank range when the Swedish teenager met Chloe Kelly’s cross.
Stina Blackstenius drilled an effort narrowly wide as the first half ended goalless and the same player had the ball in the net inside the opening 30 seconds of the restart, though the whistle had already gone for a foul by the forward.
Brighton then surged forward themselves and took the lead in style, Haley exchanging passes with Fran Kirby and blasting a fierce strike into the top corner.
Holmberg pulled a shot wide as the hosts sought a response and Renee Slegers called for the cavalry as she sent on Alessia Russo, Olivia Smith and Caitlin Foord in a triple substitution.
But it was Albion who scored the decisive second goal, doubling their lead through Hayes’ towering header at the back post from Kirby’s corner.
It was almost three when a sliding Kirby was inches away from connecting with Carla Camacho’s low cross, and the 77-cap Lioness was presented with another opportunity when Olivia Smith’s misplaced pass went straight to her, but she fired over from range.
Nnadozie pulled off another fine save to deny Laia Codina late on while Russo blazed wildly over from a tight angle as the 14-time winners bowed out.
At The Valley, 18-year-old Zara Shaw celebrated her return from injury with an extra-time winner as Liverpool squeaked past WSL2 promotion-chasers Charlton Athletic 1-0.
Shaw missed more than a year following an ACL injury but was in the right place at the right time with penalties looming to settle a hard-fought encounter in the capital.
Mia Enderby was first to go close, her header well tipped over the bar by Sophie Whitehouse, while the Addicks survived a let-off when Lucia Lobato headed a clearance onto her own crossbar.
Liverpool stayed on the front foot and Denise O’Sullivan spurned two chances late in the first half, missing the target with a header when well placed before skying a close-range effort.
Martha Thomas was introduced as part of a triple change for the visitors and came close to an instant impact but she was just unable to reach a low ball into the box.
An offside flag then denied Beata Olsson, who picked out the bottom corner with a neat backheel, and Charlton continued to hold firm despite the visitors dominating possession.
A breakthrough could not be found inside 90 minutes and Lobato exemplified the hosts’ determination with two brave blocks in quick succession, with Elisha N'Dow then heading away Jenna Clark’s goalbound effort.
Olsson continued to look dangerous, curling wide from distance and later heading over, and Liverpool’s patience paid off with five minutes remaining.
A corner led to a messy goalmouth scramble, with Clark twice denied by the woodwork before Shaw stabbed goalwards and the ball found a way through the mass of bodies to put the visitors in front.
Charlton were unable to find a response in the limited time that followed as Liverpool booked their place in the last four.
