Man City Women reach FA Cup final as Chloe Kelly scores on comeback from 11-month injury hell

Chloe Kelly scored her first goal in almost a year as she marked a first Manchester City start of the season by helping her side to the FA Cup final.

City Women were kicking off a semi-final double-header as they took on West Ham at lunchtime on Saturday in Dagenham, before the men's team faced Liverpool at Wembley at 3.30pm. And the Women got the day off to a good start with a well-earned win to book a fourth appearance in the final.

Ellen White put the Blues ahead after a strong start from West Ham, before Kelly's first goal back after an 11-month injury lay-off. After West Ham pulled one back, City were professional in the second half and were deserved winners in the sun in East London.

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City's season looked like falling apart before Christmas as they were beaten by Chelsea in last season's postponed cup semi-final, but they have now lost just one in 19 games since November - including a Continental Cup final win and now an FA Cup semi-final success.

West Ham had forced City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck into a smart save before White put them ahead, giving City a hold on the semi-final after a tense start. Keira Walsh took aim from 25 yards, her half-volley smashing against the bar, with White quickest to react as she stooped to head home the opener.

Kelly, in her first start since May 2 2021, the game in which she suffered her horror ACL injury, was then gifted a goal that will have been welcomed far beyond those with allegiances to City. West Ham's Gilly Flaherty passed blindly across her own area, straight to Kelly, who made no mistake.

The celebrations were a mixture of relief and pure delight from Kelly and her teammates, as the