A brilliant Lauren Hemp brace, Caroline Weir‘s latest wondergoal and an injury-time Ellen White effort fired Gareth Taylor‘s side through to the last four in a superb display at the Academy Stadium.
The triumph continued our impeccable record against the Toffees and impressive run of reaching the semi-final stages of the competition, having done so in every season since 2015.
The draw for the last four takes place on Monday 21 March from 18:30 on BBC News’ Sportsday show.
What happened
Eager to make home advantage count, City came flying out of the blocks.
Hemp and Lucy Bronze both watched early headed efforts bounce wide, before Bronze wrong-footed Sandy MacIver with a deflected effort that bounced agonisingly off the foot of the post.
The Everton shot-stopper then produced two smart stops to deny Ellen White and Jess Park, after another Hemp attempt on the turn had trickled wide.
The deadlock was finally broken ten minutes before the break, as Bronze swept in a cross to the nearpost, which White flicked on for Hemp to smash home from close range.
The visitors responded well to the setback but Lucy Graham’s low drive, which was deflected off-target, proved the closest they came to a leveller in the opener 45.
Two minutes after the restart, our lead was doubled with a piece of individual brilliance, as a flying Hemp met Caroline Weir‘s corner at the nearpost and flicked the ball beautifully past MacIver.
Weir then sealed the tie with yet another sensational strike, unleashing a rocket into the top corner from 25 yards to all but secure our passage into the last four.
Julie Blakstad may have added further gloss to the scoreline with her first City goal - if not for a well-timed last-ditch challenge from Danielle Turner - while Park fired over the bar.
The home side would net our fourth in seven minutes of injury time. Substitute Laura Coombs was the provider, cutting the ball back for White to convert.
In the last major action, Claire Emslie would have found the net against her former Club if not for Ruby Mace‘s block, which preserved a deserved clean sheet and capped a fine afternoon’s work all round.
How we lined up...
Taylor made four changes to the side that defeated Reading 2-0 in midweek, as Filippa Angeldahl, Hemp, Park and White replaced Georgia Stanway, Hayley Raso, Blakstad and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw.
Ellie Roebuck took her place in goal, shielded by a backline of Demi Stokes, Alex Greenwood, Alanna Kennedy and Bronze.
Keira Walsh protected the back line, employed behind Weir and Angeldahl, who were flanked by Hemp and Park. White led the line upfront.
CITY XI | Roebuck, Stokes (Blakstad 63’), Greenwood (Mace 72’), Kennedy, Bronze (Stanway 72’), Walsh, Weir (Coombs 63’), Angeldahl, Hemp (Beckie 63’), Park, White
SUBS | Keating, Shaw, Raso
EVERTON XI | MacIver, Turner, Bjorn (Emslie 56’), George (Maier 74’), Dali, Christiansen (C) (Clinton 87’), Duggan (Gauvin 74’), Graham (Bennison 62’), Finningan, Galli (Magill 74’), Pattinson
SUBS | Brosnan
Player of the Match: Lauren Hemp
Another influential display from our wing wonder, as she once again showcased the best of her attacking prowess with a poacher’s finish - in the right place at the right time - and a wonderful piece of skill to double the advantage, having already proven a threat with her pace down the flank.
Stats
City have reached the FA Cup semi-finals in each of our last eight seasons, and have won the trophy three times since 2017.
We have won all of our 19 meetings with Everton in all competitions since becoming a professional outfit in 2014.
Lauren Hemp has scored 14 goals in 29 appearances this season, and has edged back above Caroline Weir in the Club’s scoring charts with 37 in total.
Caroline Weir‘s outrageous effort marked her 12th in 26 appearances this season (and 36th in total) and her sixth in as many games.
What’s next
City welcome Everton to the Academy Stadium again on the evening of Wednesday 23 March - this time in the FA Women’s Super League.
That clash kicks off at 19:00 UK time - the third of four successive home games, as Taylor’s side then entertain Birmingham City on Sunday 27 March in a 14:00.
Tickets for all the City home games are on sale online or in person.
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