IRELAND’S KATIE MCCABE scored a superb volley for Arsenal as they marched into the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals with a 4-0 win over Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Manchester City blew rivals United away in the second half to advance to the quarter-finals with a 4-1 win at the Leigh Sports Village.
Stunning goals from McCabe and Caitlin Foord highlighted that big win for Arsenal.
Foord opened the scoring in the 19th minute, latching on to a fine ball from Rafaelle, but the best was yet to come. McCabe hit a superb volley to double the lead before Foord turned to strike a third from the edge of the area.
Kim Little added a fourth in the 68th minute after exchanging passes with Foord.
There was plenty of Irish representation involved in the game, as Niamh Fahey, Leanne Kiernan and Megan Campbell joined McCabe in the action. Fahey and Kiernan started the tie for Liverpool while Megan Campbell was introduced as a second-half substitute.
She only scores bangers, even in the #WomensFACup! 🤩@Katie_McCabe11 @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/vrgqGiVD2p
— Vitality Women's FA Cup (@VitalityWFACup) February 27, 2022
In the Manchester derby, Ireland’s Diane Caldwell played the full game the losing side.
United had capitalised on their early dominance to take the lead in the 13th minute when Katie Zelem’s corner sailed all the way into the net untouched at the far post.
City could not make their possession pay before the break but two half-time changes altered the flow of the game as Caroline Weir and Hayley Raso replaced Vicky Losada and Jess Park.
Four minutes after the restart, Raso’s cross was deflected into the path of Lauren Hemp to apply the finish, and 10 minutes later Ellen White pounced on a poor back header from Hannah Blundell to round Mary Earps and fire home.
A minute later, United’s old nemesis Weir – the match winner in the league two weeks ago – struck again, with Earps guilty of a letting a low shot pass through her at the near post.
And City’s victory was assured when two substitutes combined seconds after coming on, with Khadija Shaw on hand to poke home after Earps was unable to hold Julie Blakstad’s shot.
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