Veerle Buurman’s stunning late strike saw Chelsea edge past Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 to keep their Adobe Women’s FA Cup defence alive.
Sam Kerr opened the scoring on the 40th minute as Chelsea finally got past Spurs with a thunderbolt of a header.
Tottenham responded after the break thanks to a sumptuous Eveliina Summanen free-kick before Buurman decided the tie with her first Chelsea goal four minutes from time.
They were later joined by Manchester City, who got past Birmingham City 1-0 thanks to Khadija Shaw's early strike.
The Jamaican striker latched onto a superb pass from Iman Beney and made no mistake in finishing the chance after just eight minutes.
That was how it stayed, as Blues battled hard to limit the Barclays Women's Super League leaders and stay in the contest right until the end.
Buurman fires Blues into last four
Early on, Niamh Charles shut down a Spurs attack and then minutes later created the first clear cut chance for Chelsea as she fed Alyssa Thompson in the box, whose shot was saved down low by Lize Kop.
Kop was down again to deny a beautiful effort from Lauren James, who had worked the ball into a shooting position from a corner.
James kept probing the Tottenham goal, firing just wide and then just high to send several warning shots Spurs’ way.
Eveliina Summanen levels things up for Tottenham Hotspur!
📺 Watch live on @C4Sport, @footballontnt and @Sportsonmax pic.twitter.com/ArKIyPBfG3
— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) April 6, 2026
Defenders traded brilliant blocks, with Toko Koga earning a handshake from Kerr for denying the Australian a shot before Charles sent Bethany England’s effort behind for a Spurs corner.
Signe Gaupset then stung the hands of Hannah Hampton for Tottenham’s first shot on target as she dribbled her way to the outside of the box and unleashed a strike.
After Tottenham had been passing the ball around with patience, they were poached by Charles and Chelsea built into an attack that ended with Kerr heading home a Keira Walsh cross for the opener.
Spurs could not find a way back into the game in the first half, but a moment of magic from Summanen served up the equaliser on 52 minutes.
The Finnish set-piece specialist fizzed the ball in from almost the touchline with Hampton unable to get a hand to it.
Kerr was almost able to immediately restore Chelsea’s lead after the Australian pounced on a poor Amanda Nildén backpass, with Kop tipping the ball behind.
Koga then produced vital goal line clearances before it was Tottenham’s turn to threaten as Nildén fired a shot on target with Hampton only able to bundle for a corner.
Veerle Buurman scores late to grab her first in Chelsea blue! 👏
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— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) April 6, 2026
The pulsating game continued at pace as Ellie Carpenter missed a golden chance at the back post before England fired at Hampton, who this time was much more comfortable.
After a brief respite, the action returned to breakneck speed with Kerr missing two close chances, with Spurs similarly threatening.
The tension was finally broken as Buurman went it alone before firing a bullet into the net in what proved to be the winner on 86 minutes.
Shaw strike sends Manchester City through
Khadija Shaw's strike proved the difference as Manchester City battled past Birmingham City 1-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Adobe Women's FA Cup.
Shaw finished coolly after being played in by Iman Beney's brilliant pass, as the visitors took just eight minutes to open the scoring.
However, Birmingham had started brightly and continued to stifle Manchester City's attack, despite heavy possession for Andree Jeglertz's side.
Beney and Lauren Hemp both fired first-half efforts wide of the target, while Laura Coombs could not direct her header goalwards after good work from Hemp down the wing.
Khadija Shaw 💫
— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) April 6, 2026
The forward gives @ManCityWomen the lead in the eighth minute!
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The visitors continued to control the contest without majorly testing Lucy Thomas in goal, who was easily able to meet Aoba Fujino's tame effort.
The Birmingham goalkeeper could only watch as a Shaw strike deflected off Neve Herron and onto the crossbar, but the score stayed at 1-0 heading into the break.
Birmingham continued to carry a threat going forwards, with Oceane Hutre causing problems, but Khiara Keating was not troubled in goal.
Depsite their dominance, the visitors could not find the second they desired. Yui Hasegawa came closest as her shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Thomas with just 10 minutes remaining, before the goalkeeper again denied the Japanese international with a brilliant close-range save minutes later.
Rebecca Knaak then cannoned a header off the crossbar, the third time Manchester City had hit the woodwork, but they sitll could not find a way through.
However Shaw's early goal was ultimately enough for Manchester City to book their place in the last four as they seek a first title since 2020.
