City cruise through to the Women's FA Cup final

First half goals from Ellen White and Chloe Kelly, who scored for the first time since returning from the ACL injury she suffered last year, gave us control in the match.

Lisa Evans’ struck shortly before the break to give the visitors hope, but Lauren Hemp grabbed herself a brace in the second half to book our place in the final for the fourth time in six seasons.

WHAT HAPPENED

Despite the final score, it was the hosts who started the quicker of the two sides, with Ellie Roebuck called into action early on when she comfortably saved Adriana Leon’s free-kick.

The City stopper had to be at her best once again soon after to thwart Dagny Brynjarsdottir after the Icelandic midfielder had been sent through by Leon.

However, Gareth Taylor‘s side reacted well to that early pressure, with neat play in the midfield resulting in a powerful strike by Caroline Weir whistled just wide of the post.

And City wouldn’t have to wait long for that pressure to count when White reacted quickest to a rebound from Keira Walsh‘s thunderous strike ricocheting back off the crossbar to head home the game’s opening goal.

City’s dominance continued when Kelly pounced on a mistake from Hammers’ skipper Gilly Flaherty, presenting the winger with her first goal since returning to action.

However, there was still time for our opponents to halve the deficit before the break when Lisa Evans rounded Roebuck and squeezed the ball home.

Despite that late setback, Gareth Taylor’s side were on top from the get-go following the restart and we almost restored our two goal lead when Walsh’s floated cross was headed in by White, but the assistant flagged for offside.

The hosts reminded City that they were still in the game, as Leon’s through ball across the face of goal was inches from finding Tameka Yallop, but it didn’t take long for Lauren Hemp to put the game to bed in impressive style.

The winger slalomed her way through the Hammers defence before firing neating across goal and into the bottom corner, helping put one foot in the final.

And Hemp added her second and City’s fourth in stoppage time, combining with substitute Georgia Stanway before finding the net in clinical fashion once again.

WHAT IT MEANS

Our victory means we face either Arsenal or Chelsea in the final of the FA Cup. The semi-final match between the two sides will kick off on Sunday 17 April at 12:15 (UK).

The final will be played at Wembley Stadium on 15 May.

HOW WE LINED UP

Taylor made three changes to his starting line-up that beat today’s opponents 2-0 in the league last time out. Laura Coombs and Ellen White came in to replace Georgia Stanway and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw.

Chloe Kelly also came in to make her first start of the season as she replaced Haley Raso.

Roebuck started between the sticks, with a back four of Demi Stokes, Alex Greenwood, Alanna Kennedy, and Lucy Bronze protecting her.

Keira Walsh sat in front of the defence, with Caroline Weir and Laura Coombs linking the midfield to the attacking line.

Kelly and Lauren Hemp took their positions on the flanks with Ellen White occupying her role as sole striker.

WEST HAM XI | Arnold, Parker, Flaherty (C), Fisk, Longhurst, Svitkova, Brynjarsdottir, Hasegawa (Walker 78’), Yallop (Snerle 73’), Evans, Leon

SUBS | Moore, Wyne, Cissoko, Stringer, Houssein, Filis, Joel

CITY XI | Roebuck, Stokes, Greenwood (C), Kennedy, Bronze, Weir (Stanway 72’), Walsh, Coombs (Angeldahl 80’), Hemp, White (Shaw 73’), Kelly (Raso 62’)

SUBS | Keating, Taieb, Mace

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: KEIRA WALSH

In the holding midfield role, everything went through Keira Walsh, as her link up play helped her team in a tough, physical match. Seemingly, she never give the ball away from start to finish.

Contributing to both defence and attack, it was a well rounded performance by our number 24 who continues to consistently perform in our run in to the season finale. 

STATS

• Chloe Kelly made her first start since 2 May 2021 in the 4-0 against Birmingham that season following her ACL injury.
• City have won 100% of our away games to date against West Ham (W4 D0 L0)
• City have now reached the FA Cup final four times out of the last six seasons, winning every final they have been.

What’s next

Taylor’s side are back in league action next time out as Leicester City come to the Academy stadium on Sunday 24 April at 14:00 (UK).

The game will also be available on CITY + which you can subscribe to below.

CITY + | SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

This is the start of a run of three home games for the squad as the season draws to a close.

Tickets for all the City home games are on sale online or in person

WOMEN’S TEAM HOME TICKETS | BUY NOW

Next Fixture

All fixtures

Sun 24 Apr

FA WSL

Man City

14:00

BST

Leicester