Brighton & Hove Albion are heading to Wembley for the first time in their women's team's history after an unforgettable FA Cup semi-final that saw them overturn a 2-0 deficit and snatch victory in the 95th minute. Substitute Nadine Noordam pounced on a loose ball from a free-kick deep into stoppage time, sparking wild celebrations among the travelling fans and leaving Liverpool heartbroken at St Helens Stadium.
The Reds, who had looked in complete control after 22 minutes, were left to rue yet another semi-final collapse. This was the second consecutive season they have conceded a stoppage-time winner at this stage of the competition, a painful echo of their 2025 exit. For Brighton, it was third time lucky after falling at the semi-final hurdle in 2021 and 2023, and they will now face either Chelsea or Manchester City in the final on 31 May.
Liverpool started with blistering purpose and took the lead in the 11th minute. Ceri Holland whipped in a dangerous cross from the left and Denise O'Sullivan angled a superb header into the far corner, catching the Brighton defence flat-footed. The home side doubled their advantage just 11 minutes later when Brighton failed to clear their lines and Beata Olsson lashed a clinical shot into the net on the turn.
At that point, few could have predicted the turnaround. But Brighton's resilience came to the fore. Manuela Vanegas capitalised on slack Liverpool defending at a corner to halve the deficit from close range, giving the visitors a lifeline before the break. From then on, the momentum shifted decisively in Brighton's favour. Fran Kirby struck the woodwork early in the second half as the Seagulls began to dominate possession and territory.
The equaliser arrived midway through the second period. Kiko Seike lofted a hanging cross from the right and Madison Haley rose at the far post to nod the ball into the net, completing a move that exposed Liverpool's fragility under sustained pressure. Even as Aurélie Csillag squandered a clear chance to restore Liverpool's lead, Brighton's belief only grew.
Deep in added time, Brighton won a free-kick in a dangerous area. Head coach Dario Vidosic, who had famously told his staff to "just wait... I feel like it's coming here" when discussions about extra time began, saw his intuition vindicated. The delivery caused chaos in the box and Noordam reacted quickest to smash the ball home, sparking euphoria among the Brighton bench and supporters.
The victory carries profound emotional weight for Vidosic and the club. His father, Rado, who worked as head of coaching for women and girls at Brighton, died of cancer in January. Vidosic deflected praise after the match, emphasising the collective achievement. "I feel happy for the girls, the fans, the club," he said. "When there are these moments, I don't want attention to go to me, I want to give it to the players who deserve it."
For Liverpool, the wounds cut deep. Manager Gareth Taylor did not hide his frustration, admitting that defending set-pieces was his team's "downfall at the end" and issuing a stark warning about the club's direction. "There are a lot of things we need to improve on at this club, on and off the pitch," he stated. "Brighton are now coming into a really good moment. Spurs are making a real push, London City are spending money – we just have to be really careful that we don't get dragged away from that."
The result underlines Brighton's impressive trajectory under Vidosic. They arrived in St Helens on a six-match unbeaten run that included wins over Arsenal (away in the quarter-finals) and Manchester City, plus draws with Manchester United and Arsenal in the league. This resilience, combined with their new-found big-game mentality, suggests they will be dangerous finalists.
Historically, Brighton have often been perennial nearly-women in this competition, but this triumph rewrites that narrative. Reaching the final brings them within one win of the first major silverware in the women's team's history – a milestone that could accelerate their growth and inspire further investment. For Liverpool, the defeat raises uncomfortable questions about their ability to compete with clubs making aggressive strides forward.
As Brighton prepare for their Wembley date against one of the traditional powerhouses, the echoes of their comeback will serve as a powerful psychological weapon. Vidosic's side have proved they can rise from the canvas; now they must deliver the knockout blow on the grandest stage of all.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.
