Match reportLiverpool beaten by late Brighton goal in Women's FA Cup semi-final

The Reds had raced into a two-goal lead during the first half courtesy of a Denise O’Sullivan header and Beata Olsson finish.

Manuela Vanegas quickly reduced the deficit for the Seagulls, who then levelled via Madison Haley early in the second period.

Both teams had chances to claim the place in the Wembley showpiece but it was the visitors who took it with a 95th-minute Nadine Noordam goal.

The first clear opening at St Helens Stadium on Sunday was created by Brighton.

Charlie Rule guided a pass behind to set up a one-v-one for Fran Kirby, whose dink beat Jennifer Falk but drifted harmlessly wide.

Liverpool responded strongly and O’Sullivan would have expected to do better with a header off target from Ceri Holland’s dangerous deep cross.

The latter was in behind the opposition defence herself seconds later to meet Fuka Nagano’s clipped pass. She partially rounded the goalkeeper but her eventual effort on goal was blocked by Caitlin Hayes.

From the resulting corner, though, the Reds got in front.

The set-piece was not cleared and the ball was spread out to Holland in space in the left channel. She again picked out O’Sullivan in the middle and this time the midfielder clinically flicked her header in.

Gareth Taylor’s side were soon able to build on that lead, too.

After a spell of pressure, Olsson was presented with a chance from a loose ball that ran to her inside the area and made no mistake whatsoever with a thumped strike past Chiamaka Nnadozie.

The enhanced advantage was frustratingly short-lived.

A minute later, a Brighton corner situation was not dealt with and from close range Vanegas reacted to hook an effort home.

Liverpool re-established control for much of the remainder of a half that concluded with threats at each end.

Alejandra Bernabe brought a partially-cleared set-piece under control at the edge of the box and sent a looping strike at goal that bounced off the crossbar.

In added time, the away team sprung Kiko Seike into space yards out on an angle – and her low hit was crucially foiled by Falk.

The Reds almost produced a third goal early in the second half, only for Grace Fisk’s header to bounce narrowly wide.

There was greater impetus from the Seagulls, however, and Kirby had hit the post – via a Falk fingertip – before they drew level on 54 minutes.

Seike’s dribble down the right-hand side preceded a cross lifted to the back stick, where Haley was able to get up and nod the ball over the line.

Brighton were the dominant team now, with Seike the major influence on the flow of the game.

Next, she fired a diagonal drive that Falk palmed behind, and from the corner Hayes rose to direct a header towards goal, but off target.

Vanegas was close to grabbing her second of the contest with an attempt from 20 yards that took a deflection and landed on the roof of the net.

Liverpool’s best chance of the half was forged by Aurélie Csillag as she stole possession high on the left and moved infield. Nnadozie got a leg in the way of her finish, though.

The Brighton goalkeeper tipped over a Cornelia Kapocs effort not long before normal time was ending, while appeals for a penalty when Kirsty Maclean went down in the box were waved away.

And Noordam’s unstoppable strike, when a free-kick dropped to her in the final seconds of added time, snatched victory for the visitors to leave the Reds disappointed.

Team

Liverpool: Falk, Shimizu (Bergstrom, 61), Clark, Fisk, Bernabe, Nagano, Maclean, O’Sullivan (Csillag, 68), Kapocs, Holland (Enderby, 77), Olsson.

Unused subs: Kirby, Evans, Woodham, Josendal, Shaw, Trueman.