Women’s FA Cup semi-finals bring teasing prospect of narrative shift

W hen Chelsea lifted the FA Cup for the third time in five years at Wembley last year, the destination of the trophy followed a familiar pattern. In the past 10 years the list of winners reads similarly to that of the WSL title winners with Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal rotating domestic silverware between them – only Liverpool’s back-to-back league titles in 2013 and 2014 puncture the narrative.

The chance for another side to triumph at Wembley in May is not strong but, with Arsenal and Manchester City eliminated, it is there going into this weekend’s semi-finals.

Manchester United welcome Brighton to Leigh Sports Village on Saturday with both sides eyeing a maiden FA Cup final but this is no David v David battle. Marc Skinner’s Manchester United top the WSL, one point clear of Chelsea but having played a game more, while the Seagulls sit bottom, a point behind Leicester but with two games in hand.

The teams met in the league before the international break and Brighton’s 4-0 home defeat demonstrated how big a hill they face. Brighton have had a difficult season. The team will be on their third manager in less than six months when the former London City Lionesses manager Melissa Phillips takes charge for the semi-final, and that is without counting Amy Merricks’ caretaker stints.

The former Bayern Munich manager Jens Scheuer left last month after six games, failing to win in his three WSL matches. Phillips’ job is huge and she has limited time to save Brighton from the drop. An FA Cup final place would be the catalyst for change. Whether they will have the forward Kayleigh Green or defender Guro Bergsvand back is unknown.

Standing in their way are a United who cannot afford to end without a trophy. Expectations