Mary Earps praises “gritty” team performance as Manchester United Women reach FA Cup final | OneFootball

Mary Earps was a hero yesterday as Manchester United held on to beat Chelsea for the first time ever to reach the final of the FA Cup.

Speaking to the BBC after the game, Earps said it would mean “everything” to win the FA Cup with the club she’s been with for the last five years.

United had a dream start as Lucia Garcia opened the scoring after just 40 seconds. Leah Galton won the ball off Eve Perisset and charged down the left. She delivered a cross into the box for Garcia to head past Hannah Hampton.

Twenty minutes later, United doubled their lead after Ella Toone stood strong to win the ball back, again on the left and deliver a cross to the near post where Rachel Williams was there to head it into the back of the net.

Former United player, Lauren James clawed one back for Chelsea in first half injury time but United dug deep and defended like their lives depended on it to hold on to the victory.

Earps pulled off seven saves to maintain United’s lead, including a world class dive to her right that denied James’ looping header that would have forced extra time.

“This season has been so hard, mentally brutal but I’m so glad with the win,” Earps said.

United have struggled for consistent form in the league, leaving them well outside of the Champions League qualifying places.

“We’ve been lacking aggression in our game this season and I think the girls knew we needed to give it a good go, not that we don’t think that every week but it’s heavy when things don’t go your way this year, it’s been difficult.

“[The match] was ugly, it was horrible, but I don’t care because we won.”

The England shot-stopper had a point to prove as she was dropped from England’s starting eleven in their last match in favour of Chelsea’s Hampton.

Earps thinks the performance against Chelsea was the team’s best of the season.

“It was the most gritty, the one with the most heart and I think everyone who came into the game knew what we were trying to achieve. We were holding a block against one-way traffic but it meant so much.”

United will now face Tottenham Hotspur in the final on May 12th but they will host Spurs next week in the WSL in what pundits are calling a dress rehearsal for the big day under the arches.

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