Women’s FA Cup: Defending champions Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal advance to the quarter-finals

Defending champions Chelsea beat Manchester United and qualified for the FA Cup quarter-finals thanks to defender Naomi Girma’s extra-time goal.

The American international scored from close range in the 99th minute to open her goal account for the Blues after the visitors failed to clear their lines from a corner kick.

It was a disappointing end to the tie for Mark Skinner’s side, who fought back to take the game to extra time.

Substitute Semi Owogwu reached the back post in the 81st minute to cancel out Sam Kerr’s opening goal – the Australian had come off the bench to deliver a knockout blow to Verl Burman three minutes earlier.

Chelsea defeated United in the final of last season, and the victory will give coach Sonia Bombastor’s team a psychological advantage over the Red Devils before they meet again in the League Cup final at Ashton Gate Stadium on March 15.

Elsewhere, captain Kim Little scored for the second successive FA Cup match, as 14-time winners Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 win over Bristol City.

Viktoria Belova and Frida Mannum also scored goals in the second half, which resulted in a head injury to winger Olivia Smith, who was forced off the field.

Manchester City also qualified after mercilessly beating second-tier Sheffield United 4-0.

The Women’s Super League leaders took a three-goal lead inside 22 minutes thanks to a close-range brace from Lauren Hemp and a low strike from Aoba Fujino. Laura Combs scored her fourth goal in the 90th minute.

Brighton won 2-1 over West Ham in another Women’s Football League match, with coach Dario Vidosic returning to the bench.

The 38-year-old has been away from the team in Australia for the past month following the death of his father Radu, who was also head of women’s and girls’ coaching at Brighton.

Veteran Fran Kirby brought back the years with a goal and an assist in a strong first-half display, as Leyla Wandler’s 75th-minute goal was unable to inspire West Ham.

Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic won the only encounters that did not involve top-flight clubs.

Ossian Hurter scored a hat-trick in the Blues’ 8-0 win over Chatham Town on Friday evening, while the Addicks edged past fourth-tier Oxford thanks to a Lucy Fitzgerald penalty in the 76th minute.

The London City Lionesses host the capital’s neighbors Tottenham on Monday, February 23 (19:30 GMT) in the remaining match in the fifth round.