Arsenal Ladies made it through to the FA Women’s Cup quarter-finals with a 5-3 penalty shootout win away to Birmingham City Ladies (1-1 aet).
This was the opening game of the 2016 season and the League will start at home to Reading on Wednesday.
As expected, it was a tough game for the Gunners with Blues taking the lead through former player Freda Ayisi on the 26th minute.
Danielle Carter scored the equaliser on the 79th-minute that sent the game into extra time.
Fara Williams, Natalia Pablos Sanchon, Kelly Smith, Danielle Carter and Jordan Nobbs all converted their spot-kicks while Charlie Wellings hit the post for Birmingham.
https://twitter.com/ArsenalLadies/status/711654944596729856
Pedro Losa had selected the following starting 11 for this cup tie: Van Veenendaal; Scott, Rose, Stoney, Williamson; Janssen, Williams, Nobbs; Van de Donk, Carter, McCabe.
The following players were on the bench: Byrne, Losada, Natalia, Corredera, Smith.
https://twitter.com/FAWSL/status/711631461980438528
Losa left Vyan Sampson, Josephine Henning, Emma Mitchell, Chloe Kelly and Asisat Oshoala at home.
McCabe and Janssen were replaced at half-time by Losada and Pablos Sanchon while Kelly Smith made a welcome return to the team in the 74th minute, coming on for Jemma Rose when the Gunners were still 1-0 down.
It will be fascinating to see who will make the 18-player squad for the League opener on Wednesday against Reading.
https://twitter.com/ArsenalLadies/status/711612814557880321
Other FA Women’s Cup results:
Doncaster Belles 1 Chelsea Ladies 4
Liverpool Ladies 0 Man City Women 2
Reading Women 2 Millwall Lionesses 0
Notts County Ladies 3 Durham Women 1
Yeovil Town 0 Sunderland Ladies 2
Aston Villa Ladies 1 Everton Ladies 0
Brighton and Hove 3 SC Albion 4
The FA has made the Round 6 draw and Arsenal Ladies will be at home to Notts County, a team renowned for their ability to park the bus and hit the opposition on the break.
The tie will be played on 3rd April.
The full draw:
Manchester City v Sporting Club Albion**
Sunderland v Reading
Chelsea v Aston Villa*
Arsenal v Notts County
*denotes second level team
** denotes third level team