Holders Manchester United cruised past Women’s Championship opponents, Sunderland to reach the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals.
It was a dominant and impressive display from Marc Skinner’s side, who showed their superiority as a Women’s Super League side at Leigh Sports Village.
Sunderland, the only quarter-finalist not competing in the top tier, were up against it straight away when Leah Galton nodded United into the lead after seven minutes.
Captain Maya le Tissier doubled their lead, heading in Gabby George’s corner delivery, as Sunderland failed to record a shot on target in a testing first half.
United continued to be on the front foot but Sunderland were given a huge slice of luck when a clearance rebounded back off substitute Louise Griffiths and rolled past goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce to halve the deficit.
It rocked United for a few minutes but the hosts quickly regained control and saw out a comfortable victory in the end, with Ella Toone adding a third goal in stoppage time.
Sunderland head back up north with their positive cup run at an end, while in-form United target a trip to Wembley as they continue to build momentum.
“They made it tough. It was just about making sure we could finish our chances,” said United boss Skinner afterwards.
“They scored a freak goal where we could have controlled things better, but all in all in the last three years we’ve only lost one game in the FA Cup.
“It’s been an incredible run so far and we want to carry that on and get to Wembley.”
United show quality as Sunderland’s run ends
Skinner warned his players beforehand that it would not be an easy task to beat Sunderland and they would have to earn their place in the semi-finals.
But United made it look easy for large periods as they dominated from start to finish, moving the ball around quickly and limiting Sunderland’s attacking options.
It was the two starting centre-backs Le Tissier and Millie Turner who dictated things, spraying passes from left to right and finding team-mates in behind Sunderland’s backline.
Galton’s opener came from the right-hand side as she stooped low to meet Celine Bizet’s cross.
Captain Le Tissier immediately sprinted over to the sidelines to collect a shirt from a member of the coaching staff and Toone held it up to cameras in the corner of the stadium, displaying the name of Poppy Atkinson – the 10-year-old girl who was fatally hit by a car on a football pitch this week.
An applause by supporters in the 10th minute was another touching tribute, while United continued to create chances and entertain at Leigh Sports Village.
Had they been more clinical, the scoreline could have been humbling for Sunderland as Melvine Malard skewed a volley on to the crossbar and Bizet twice missed from close range.
Le Tissier, who was easily the standout performer on the night, capped off her display with a perfectly-placed header on the stroke of half-time, making it 2-0 before the bizarre clearance that bounced off Griffiths for Sunderland’s goal threatened a nervy ending.
However, there was little danger of United losing their lead as Sunderland tired and struggled to get out of their own half before Toone punished them with a crowning third goal.
This is a competition that United have enjoyed in recent seasons, reaching back-to-back finals before getting their hands on the trophy in 2024.
They will find out their semi-final opponents on Sunday following the conclusion of the other three matches involving WSL rivals Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City.
