Adobe Women's FA Cup: Chelsea scrape past Manchester United in extra time as Olivia Smith suffers head injury in Arsenal win over Bristol City
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By Ben Grounds
Updated 22/02/2026 at 18:57 GMT
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Naomi Girma's extra-time winner sent defending champions Chelsea past Manchester United and into the Adobe Women's FA Cup quarter-finals. Elsewhere, Arsenal proved too strong for Bristol City but Olivia Smith left the field on a stretcher after suffering a head injury, and Lauren Hemp scored twice as Manchester City thumped Sheffield United 4-0, with Aoba Fujino and Laura Coombs also on target.
Highlights: Chelsea edge Man Utd in FA Cup extra-time drama
Video credit: TNT Sports
Naomi Girma struck in extra time to send defending champions Chelsea through to the Adobe Women's FA Cup quarter-finals after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Manchester United at Kingsmeadow.
For long stretches, it seemed as though the decisive contribution would belong to Sam Kerr.
Introduced from the bench after being honoured for her 150th appearance, Kerr broke the deadlock late in the second half, slipping past Phallon Tullis-Joyce and appearing to nudge Sonia Bompastor's side towards the last eight.
But United refused to fold as captain Maya Le Tissier crafted the equaliser from a cleverly worked free-kick and substitute Simi Awujo finished smartly to level the tie just three minutes later, forcing extra time and shifting the tension once more.
The contest was ultimately decided nine minutes into the additional period. After Tullis-Joyce parried a Chelsea corner, Girma reacted quickest, driving home the rebound to settle a breathless encounter and open her account for the club in the most dramatic fashion.
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Awujo delivers instant response as Man Utd send FA Cup tie to extra-time
Video credit: TNT Sports
Reflecting on the moment, Girma told TNT Sports: "It was a tough match. I'm just happy I could help. It's a great feeling. I don't even know how it fell to me but it was there and I'm happy it went in.
"Set-pieces are a strength of ours and theirs as well, so it was tough to concede in the last few minutes of regular time, but I was proud of our spirit to come back in extra time to finish it off. It was a real team effort."
Pundit Fara Williams was struck by the intensity of the occasion, saying: "It was a game which demonstrated just how much the FA Cup means to them and how much they wanted to get into the quarter-final draw. Marc Skinner knows his players did everything to get a result."
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Kerr haunts Man Utd again as Chelsea take late lead in FA Cup clash
Video credit: TNT Sports
Five-time FA Cup winner Karen Carney added: "United have had four games in eight [10] days, plus travel, and with this going to extra time and you need that extra push, you've got a 16-year-old kid who came on for Manchester United [Layla Drury].
"I'm sure she's a brilliant talent but it's different to being able to bring on a Sam Kerr or a Guro Reiten.
"The last couple of games for Chelsea have been good, but overall it's a tough period for that group. They've constantly spoken about a transitional time, but I thought today the old-school mentality, and their experience came through. Chelsea had the fresher legs and the fighting spirit. Kerr made a big difference."
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Girma pounces to score the winning goal in extra time
Image credit: Getty Images
United showed far greater resilience than in last year’s final, but the holders’ experience ultimately proved decisive.
Chelsea, six-time winners of the competition, remain firmly on course to defend their crown, with rivals including Arsenal and Manchester City still in pursuit.
Bompastor, meanwhile, framed the victory as a test of resolve. She told TNT Sports: "It's sometimes great that you have to show character to win the games. This block of fixtures for us has been tough for our emotions but to finish off with a win is great.
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Girma pokes Chelsea into extra-time lead as Blues bounce back from late leveller
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Sam has enough experience in these games to know what she has to do on the pitch. It's about me giving her confidence and belief. She wants more minutes, we can understand, but it is important that the ones on the bench make an impact.
"It's important to have a bench that has experience and quality when it is really tight to have those options. For them to help the team is very important."
Smith injured but Arsenal progress
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Alessia Russo, Emily Fox and Chloe Kelly celebrate during Arsenal's win
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Arsenal forward Olivia Smith was stretchered off during The Gunners' 3-0 victory over Bristol City after a worrying clash of heads early in the second half.
The 21-year-old received lengthy treatment on the pitch, prompting 14 minutes of stoppage time, before being carried off in a neck brace to a standing ovation at Meadow Park.
Arsenal went on to secure their place in the quarter-finals through goals from Kim Little, Victoria Pelova and Frida Maanum.
Smith, Arsenal's joint second-leading scorer this season with eight goals, made history in July 2025 as the first ÂŁ1 million player in women's football following her move from Liverpool.
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Olivia Smith is carried off on a stretcher after a clash of heads
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Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers told the club's official website: "I'm happy with the win, happy we're progressing. It's a clean sheet again. I don't think we give them much apart from a couple of set pieces.
"Yes, very important to finish the block this way. I think we're on a run of seven wins, so really happy with it. The players have done an amazing job this block. They go away now, and I look forward to keep on going in the next block.
"It's the consistency of small good actions and behaviours both on and off the pitch, which has been on a really high level. And then I think whatever the circumstances, whatever the conditions, and with the quality that we have, we can win games with that foundation. So that's been amazing."
Liverpool edge Merseyside derby
Liverpool advanced into the quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over local rivals Everton in
St Helens.
St Helens.
The hosts took the lead in the 34th minute as Mia Enderby headed home at the back post from a wonderful Ceri Holland cross, while getting clattered by Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan in the process.
Gareth Taylor's side doubled their advantage on the brink of half-time as Beata Olsson bundled home following Holland's free-kick delivery, once again from the left flank.
There was a lot of luck involved as Everton halved their deficit in the second half, with Aurora Galli's strike hitting a post, bouncing off Jennifer Falk, catching the goalframe once more before hitting the Liverpool goalkeeper again and dribbling across the line.
But Liverpool held on for their first Merseyside derby victory in three attempts, having lost the previous two meetings by an aggregate scoreline of 6-1.
Hemp on form as Man City thump Sheff Utd
Manchester City eased into the quarter-finals with a commanding 4-0 victory over Sheffield United.
Lauren Hemp set the tone inside six minutes, finishing off a slick team move, and doubled the advantage moments later with a sharp touch at the back post.
When Aoba Fujino added a third in the 22nd minute, the tie already felt beyond the visitors, despite a brief spell in which they sought to regain a foothold.
City controlled possession for long stretches but found further goals elusive until the closing seconds, when Laura Coombs struck to seal a comprehensive win - her sixth goal of the season and a fitting flourish to an assured display.
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Manchester City are through to the quarter-finals after seeing off Sheffield United
Image credit: Getty Images
City head coach Andree Jeglertz said: "Of course, I'm happy. We did what we needed to do, I think it's difficult, we are scoring three goals early in the game.
"The second half, we have a couple of great scoring chances, so I'm happy. There was the opportunity for a lot of players to show we have depth in the squad and they're performing. I'm happy."
On Hemp's performance, Jeglertz added: "I'm so happy for her because she's on such a good level. She's performing well for us ever since she came back from injury.
"She's a very important player for us, and I'm very happy she's scoring because it's always a thing for a player. But it's also how she's performing which is very good."
Charlton Athletic prevailed 1-0 at Oxford United, while West Ham were beaten 2-1 at home to Brighton.
How to watch and stream the Women’s FA Cup
Four of the eight matches over the weekend will be shown live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Matches will be available both live and on demand.
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports and entertainment in one destination.
You can also watch TNT Sports through EE TV, Sky, and Virgin Media.
TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.
Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+
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