Mary Earps threw down her gloves and let out a roar that banished the frustrations of a disappointing season, for an afternoon at least. Manchester United had finally beaten Chelsea, earning revenge for last season's Women's FA Cup final defeat to Emma Hayes's side to book their return to Wembley.
Before then, as a season teetered on the brink, the holders threw everything they had at United and Earps was forced to pull off a string of brilliant saves, twice denying Lauren James, dragging United through. There were wild celebrations at full-time, but also relief and vindication. "This season has been so hard," Earps revealed. "It's been mentally brutal."
Clearly, that was not the plan. United have regressed dramatically in the Women's Super League this campaign, falling from second to fifth, from title challengers to 12 points off the Champions League places. It has brought scrutiny and dissent towards the manager, Marc Skinner, who is out of contract at the end of the month and has hardly shown that he merits a new one, with United set to be replaced by Liverpool in the top four.
The FA Cup has therefore come to represent an all-or-nothing quest for United. They will be favourites when they take on firsttime finalists Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley tomorrow, but that comes with additional pressure, too. United's season will be a failure should they lose, it will be saved if the club lifts its first trophy, six years on from the formation of the women's team.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 11, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
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هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 11, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
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