Brighton Women Fightback to Reach their First WFA Cup Final

Brighton Women Fightback to Reach their First WFA Cup Final
Madison Haley of Brighton Hove Albion celebrates scoring her teams second goal with teammates Photo by Jess HornbyGetty Images

Brighton Women came back from two goals down to edge hosts Liverpool 3-2 to reach the Adobe WFA Cup Final.

Fran Kirby broke through on goal for Brighton, but goalkeeper Jennifer Falk made a crucial touch on the shot.

Liverpool’s Denise O’Sullivan missed a clear headed opportunity before heading home from Ceri Holland’s cross past Chiamaka Nnadozie for a 10th-minute lead.

The advantage was doubled on 21 minutes when Brighton failed to clear and Beata Olsson whipped the loose ball home.

Less than two minutes later, the visitors pulled one back when a corner was deflected to Manuela Vanegas, who scored from close range.

Alejandra Bernabe clipped the Brighton crossbar late in the first half, and in added time Falk blocked an effort from th Seagulls’ Kiko Seike.

Kirby hit the post early in the second half, but her side were level on 54 minutes as Madison Haley headed in a deep cross from Seike.

Falk tipped away the angled drive from Seike, and a strike from Vanegas was deflected onto the roof of the net.

Nnadozie came to Brighton’s rescue when Aurélie Csillag forced her way into the box, and again when a long ball found its way through to Cornelia Kapocs, tipping the shot over the bar.

Stoppage-time substitute Nadine Noordam dramatically rifled home her first goal for Brighton after a free kick was cleared in her direction and she lashed it in.

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