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Manchester United Girls reached the FA Cup remaining this weekend, to the delight of 6800 followers at Leigh Sports activities Village. They received 2–1 over Chelsea and beat the defending champions for the primary time of their 11 conferences.
United's goalscorers Lucia Garcia and Rachel Williams have been visibly emotional on the remaining whistle as they spoke to membership media, with the sounds of their team-mates' dressing room celebrations within the background.
“I'm very drained however very blissful,” Garcia mentioned. “It's the primary time we've crushed Chelsea and it's the perfect time to do it as a result of we've been within the remaining for the second yr in a row.”
Garcia was shocked to search out that her objective got here simply 42 seconds after the beginning of the sport, when Leah Galton received the ball and charged in from the left. She delivered a cross into the field and Garcia handed it to Hannah Hampton.
“Effectively completed! It was a tremendous second however we now must work arduous to win the ultimate at Wembley,” Garcia mentioned.
Williams doubled United's lead with one other header within the twenty third minute. Ella Toon offered help.
Williams mentioned, “It was a rewrite of final yr's remaining and there’s no straightforward path to the ultimate.” “The arduous work we’ve, the workers, the gamers, the followers, they have been completely incredible.
“We are going to get pleasure from at the moment after which sit up for the ultimate and hopefully we can win it.”
It was a gritty efficiency from United, who needed to defend resolutely for a lot of the recreation. Lauren James scored a objective simply earlier than half-time however United held on to win.
It was an intense and bodily recreation which Mary Earps described to the BBC after the match as “horrible” however United discovered a option to win.
Williams added: “The supervisor needed to vary issues. I've been on this league for a very long time, I'm not nervous about taking part in stunning soccer. If we’ve to play lengthy ball, stunning soccer, sample soccer, play no matter you should win the sport. We needed gamers who work arduous not solely on the ball but additionally off it.
Within the second half, Williams took a ball to his face whereas attempting to cease Hampton from pouncing on the sphere.
“A giant a part of my recreation is physicality, lots of people have been saying about how I received the ball within the keeper's face and also you simply get on with it. I’ll do it, as a result of what’s extra necessary is that we do our job on the market and we received our reward at the moment.”
Williams praised Earps for his “good” efficiency as he made seven nice saves to keep up United's lead.
“That's why he has acquired as a lot reward as he has over time as a result of whenever you want your keeper to step up in large moments he has completed that.”
Maya Le Tissier posted on social media after the sport that it had been 89 minutes of defending for United and Williams was as soon as once more beaming with satisfaction when speaking about her teammate.
“Proper on the finish Maya does a diving header, virtually will get kicked within the face. I believe given the ups and downs of this season, when that's all you could have left to play for, I'm not going to go house tonight sitting on the sofa considering, I want we had completed that, I want If we did that, we gave every thing we may and that's the reward for it.”
After the sport, the membership posted footage of the gamers dancing and singing within the dressing room.
Take me house!#MUWomen , #WomenFACup pic.twitter.com/tDQKFHBAkf
– Manchester United Girls (@ManUtdWomen) 14 April 2024
Williams joked, “Zell says I drink on the Gaffer however I say two days off as a result of after that, my physique might be sore!”
United will now flip their consideration to the league as they host Tottenham subsequent weekend in what is going to really feel like a warm-up for the ultimate as Spurs have already booked their place at Wembley on Could 12 by beating Leicester.
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