Vilde Boe Risa's screamer helps send Manchester United into FA Cup quarter finals

Manchester United sail into the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Quarter Finals after Vilde Boe Risa, Leah Galton, Hannah Blundell, Alessia Russo and Nikita Parris put five past Durham.

While the Reds enjoyed the majority of the ball, the game took a while to get going. A reasonably uneventful first half saw the hosts struggle to get out of third gear with constant deliberate slowing of play until Boe Risa’s free kick got things going for the Reds. Her set piece delivery soared into Naoisha Mcaloon’s top corner minutes before the break.

Galton then doubled the host’s lead when she chased a loose ball, capitalising in the 53rd minute, Blundell patiently lingered towards the edge of the attacking box where she hit the ball on the half volley rolling it under the goalkeeper and into the back of the net past the hour mark. Substitution Alessia Russo nodded the ball home from close range, just five minutes after coming on. A fumble in the box lead to Parris getting herself on the scoresheet in the 88th minute.

Durham turned up to the Leigh Sports Village ready to challenge the top-tier side and clearly unwilling to be bullied off the ball in a physical battle. Lily Crosthwaite and Dee Bradley put United’s back line under pressure and chased the ball right back to Mary Earps to no avail. Saoirse Noonan hit the upright in the dying minutes of the game almost getting a consolation goal.

Player Ratings

Mary Earps - Incredibly vocal, she bought the play back to her feet and slowed the game down then Durham’s press was strong. Her distribution was on point even when under pressure across the box. Clean easy save of a fireball shot from close range. 8

Ona Batlle - Covered for Blundel out of possession, Spanish link up on the right flask