Brighton produced a late turnaround in St Helens to reach their first Women’s FA Cup final, coming from two goals down to beat Liverpool in a match decided deep into stoppage time.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, played a vital role in preserving Brighton’s hopes, producing crucial late saves to deny Liverpool substitutes Aurelie Csillag and Cornelia Kapocs.
Liverpool started strongly and took control inside the opening 22 minutes. Denise O’Sullivan headed the first goal before Beata Olsson added a second from close range, putting Brighton under early pressure in their first semi-final since 1976.
Brighton responded quickly. Manuela Vanegas pulled one back to reduce the deficit, and the momentum shifted before the break.
The Seagulls pushed for an equaliser after the restart, but Fran Kirby missed a key chance to level the game when she struck the post. Brighton continued to press and were rewarded when Madison Haley headed in to make it 2-2.
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Liverpool had moments to regain control, with Kiko Seike forcing a save from Jennifer Falk, while Aurelie Csillag also tested Chiamaka Nnadozie late on.
The Brighton goalkeeper kept her side in the game when she parried a close-range effort, ensuring the tie remained level.
With the game heading towards extra time, Brighton found the decisive moment in the fifth minute of added time.
Nadine Noordam, introduced late in the match, took control inside the area and struck home from 10 yards to complete the comeback.
Brighton will now face either Chelsea or Manchester City in the final at Wembley on 31 May.
Liverpool had started the match with confidence and looked in control after their early goals, but Brighton’s response changed the direction of the contest.
After the break, Brighton created more chances and finished the game with greater pressure, registering more attempts on goal in the second half.
For Liverpool, it was another late setback in the competition, having also exited at the semi-final stage in similar fashion last season. Despite the defeat, there were signs of improvement in their overall performance compared to a difficult league campaign.
Brighton, meanwhile, move on to a first FA Cup final in their history, built on a strong second-half display and a decisive finish in stoppage time.
