Women’s FA Cup: talking points from the weekend’s fifth-round action | OneFootball

Shaw returns with a goal after abuse

Khadija Shaw provided a defiant response to those who subjected her to horrific racial and misogynistic abuse last week - by scoring an important goal on her return to the Manchester City squad. The striker withdrew from Gareth Taylor’s squad before Thursday’s League Cup semi-final against Arsenal to protect her mental wellbeing. Shaw, who had been out with injury for over a month until the end of January, came off the bench at half-time and scored City’s third in the 3-1 win against Leicester less than 15 minutes later – her first goal since 8 December. “I think that will give her a lot of confidence,” said Taylor, who knows his side’s season will hinge on a remarkable four meetings with Chelsea in the space of 13 days next month – starting with the League Cup final on 15 March, and followed by a two-legged Champions League quarter-final either side of a WSL meeting. Emillia Hawkins

Vidosic unhappy with pitch after Brighton exit

The Brighton manager, Dario Vidosic, said a poor-quality playing surface hindered both teams’ approach to a cup tie that saw Aston Villa claim their first win under new head coach, Natalia Arroyo. The match was played at the Poundland Bescot Stadium, the home of Walsall, rather than Villa Women’s usual home at Villa Park, and Vidosic said after his side were beaten 3-2: “It won’t be a surprise to anyone here that that [pointing at the the pitch] is very, very tough to play on. Both teams I think had to adjust a little bit how we would like to play but the surface probably wasn’t allowing that today. There were a lot of bobbles and the pitch seemed to slow everything up.” Tom Garry

Historic day for Wolves despite loss

It may have been a comfortable 6-0 victory for Manchester United but their visit to Wolves bore all the hallmarks of a classic FA Cup tie. Over 5,000 fans packed into AFC Telford’s SEAH stadium – a new attendance record for Wolves’ women’s team – as Dan McNamara’s side entertained a team two tiers above them. Both clubs are at very different stages in their journey but it remained a night to remember. “These are the moments,” McNamara told his side. “In 10-15 years’ time, we’ll get back together and talk about this.” Despite an industrious first half from the hosts, it was United’s quality that shone through. Young Wales international Mared Griffiths produced the moment of the evening late on, the 17-year-old scoring just seven minutes after coming off the bench for her United debut, before adding another in injury time. It was certainly an occasion she will never forget. Sophie Downey

Rugby encapsulate FA Cup spirit

Rugby Borough embodied the spirit of the FA Cup in their fifth-round clash with Liverpool. The National League South side battled hard against their WSL counterparts and almost took the match to extra time. However, two late goals from substitutes Marie Höbinger and Mia Enderby killed Borough’s Cup dream. The hosts – who were the lowest-ranked club left in the competition – put on a defensive display that any top-tier manager would have be proud of, absorbing constant pressure faultlessly until the 84th minute. “This is why the FA Cup is so important,” the Liverpool manager, Matt Beard, said. “To see the run that Rugby Borough have been on and the attendance here today, that’s what this competition is all about.” EH

Chelsea stay on course for quadruple

Another day, another Chelsea victory. The relentless Blues secured their 22nd win from 23 games in all competitions to progress to the quarter-finals. They dominated Everton, registering 22 shots with 11 on target - but they initially did not have it all their own way. Everton’s Sara Holmgaard put the visitors ahead with a 17th-minute olimpico that stunned the hosts. It was the first goal Chelsea have conceded in 687 minutes of football. Nevertheless, Sonia Bompastor’s side recovered to turn matters around, with goals from Catarina Macario, Mayra Ramírez, Maika Hamano and Sandy Baltimore in a 4-1 win. Whether it’s the personnel on the field or the firepower off the bench, they have so much depth at their disposal to always find a way. Having reached the Women’s League Cup final in midweek, the hopes of a quadruple remain very much alive. SD

Gunners relieved to get past London City

Renée Slegers said it was “very important” for Arsenal to progress in the FA Cup after they were left “hurt” by their failure to reach the League Cup final on Thursday night. A rotated Gunners eased past London City Lionesses with a 2-0 win at Meadow Park to reach the quarter-finals. With Slegers’ side knocked out of the League Cup and 10 points behind Chelsea in the WSL it was imperative that they kept their FA Cup hopes alive given alongside the Champions League it is their most viable chance for silverware this season. However, London City are no routine Championship side, the Michele Kang-owned club boasting a host of experienced internationals as they bid to win promotion to the WSL. “We are very happy with the patience we showed because we were hurt after the City loss,” Slegers said. “You are going into a game like this where the ground is really hard to play on, the opposition makes it really hard and then we have to wait for the second goal to really secure the game.” Suzanne Wrack

Header image: [Composite: Guardian pictures]