In a stunning FA Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge, Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw produced a moment of magic to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, scoring a 91st-minute equalizer and an extra-time winner to beat Chelsea 3-2. The win sends City to the FA Cup final against Brighton on 31 May, keeping their double hopes alive after a season of dominance in the Women’s Super League.
This match was loaded with narrative. Shaw, the WSL’s top scorer, is set to leave City at the end of the season, with Chelsea leading the race for her signature. Her performance here was a statement — showing City what they’re losing and Chelsea what they could gain. The tension was palpable from kick-off.
Chelsea started brightly, with their dynamic front three of Alyssa Thompson, Sam Kerr, and Lauren James troubling City’s defense. Erin Cuthbert, making her 300th appearance for the Blues, opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a shot that deflected off Jade Rose. Minutes later, Kerr had a goal disallowed after the ball was deemed to have gone out of play before Ellie Carpenter’s cross, though replays suggested the decision was harsh.
City struggled to find rhythm in the first half, perhaps still feeling the effects of their title celebrations. Lauren Hemp forced a save, but Chelsea doubled their lead after the break when Kerr nodded in after goalkeeper Khiara Keating failed to claim James’s cross. At 2-0, the game seemed beyond City.
Yet this City side has shown remarkable resilience all season. With three minutes of normal time left, substitute Mary Fowler squeezed a low shot through bodies to reduce the deficit. Then, in the first minute of added time, Shaw turned and fired home under pressure from Lucy Bronze to force extra time.
Extra time saw Chelsea push hard, and they felt aggrieved when penalty appeals were waved away after Keating made a fine save at the feet of Aggie Beever-Jones. But City struck again in the 103rd minute: Yui Hasegawa raced onto Hannah Hampton’s rolled-out ball, beating Joanna Rytting Kaneryd, and crossed for Shaw to power a header past Hampton.
Chelsea tried to respond, with Keating making a fingertip save to push Sjoeke Nüsken’s effort onto the bar late on. But City held firm, completing a remarkable comeback that left Chelsea to ponder how they let a two-goal lead slip with four minutes left.
The result underscores City’s newfound grit under manager Andrée Jeglertz. Having ended Chelsea’s six-year WSL title streak with a 5-1 thrashing earlier this season, this FA Cup semi-final victory reinforces their status as the dominant force in English women’s football. For Chelsea, the defeat raises questions about consistency in big moments.
Shaw’s performance will be remembered as one of the great FA Cup semi-final displays. Her double not only sealed City’s place in the final but also served as a reminder of her immense talent as she prepares for the next chapter. Brighton await at Wembley, and City will be favorites to lift the cup.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.