Matildas Abroad Review: Lyon, Hammarby and Häcken book spot in domestic cup finals

Lyon, Hammarby and BK Häcken have all booked their spot in their respective league cup finals, while Aston Villa, Brighton and Chelsea all advanced to the semi-finals of the Women's FA Cup. 

Read the review below. 

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England

Starting off in Birmingham, Lydia Williams' Brighton & Hove Albion booked their spot in the Women's FA Cup semi-finals after a 2-0 win over Birmingham City.

Poppy Pattinson opened the scoring in spectacular fashion for the Seagulls, netting an Olimpico. Danielle Carter doubled the visitors' advantage just four minutes later from the spot to see Brighton through to the final four. Williams remained on the bench in the victory.

Meanwhile, the Women's FA Cup defending champions, Sam Kerr's Chelsea also booked their spot in the semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Reading FC.

Quick-fire goals to Jess Carter and a penalty to Maren Mjelde gave the Blues a 2-0 lead going into the break. Guro Reiten added her name to the scoresheet just after the interval, before Reading clawed one back through Sanne Troelsgaard to see out the game 3-1.

Kerr remained on the bench in the victory, with Chelsea advancing to the final four of the competition, with the Blues aiming to win the trophy for the third successive season.

Lastly, Emily Gielnik's Aston Villa knocked out last year's runners-up, Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso and Alanna Kennedy's Manchester City.

Villa opened the scoring just 20 minutes into the game, with defender Rachel Corsie getting on the scoresheet. Deyna Castellanos found the equaliser before the break for City, making it 1-1 heading into the interval. 

With both sides still unable to find the matchwinner in the second half, the game was forced into extra time. Aston Villa retook the lead once again, with Rachel Daly finding the back of the net. 

Fowler and Raso came off the bench to help find the equaliser, but Villa held on to advance to the next round with a 2-1 win. Kennedy remained on the bench for Manchester, while Gielnik did not feature in the matchday squad. 

France

Meanwhile, Ellie Carpenter's Lyon booked their place in the Coupe de France féminine Final after beating FC Fleury 91 2-0.

Lindsey Horan opened the scoring for the home side just eight minutes into the encounter before Vicki Becho Desbonne added a second just three minutes later. 

Ellie Carpenter (12) from OL in action during the coupe de france semi-final at the Groupama Stadium in DÃ cines-Charpieu, France. (Pauline FIGUET / SPP) PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xPaulinexFIGUETx/xSPPx spp-en-PaFiSp-230A9930
Ellie Carpenter from OL in action during the Coupe de France semi-final at the Groupama Stadium in DÃ cines-Charpieu, France. (Photo:Pauline Figuet/ SPP)

Carpenter played the whole game for Lyon as the side advance to the final, where they will take on Paris Saint-Germain in May. 

Sweden

Our final stop takes us to Sweden, where two sides featuring Matildas Abroad booked their spot in the Swedish Women's Cup final. 

Aivi Luik's BK Häcken defeated Kristianstads DFF 2-1 to advance to the final. Goals to Anna Anvegård and Stine Larsen saw the Wasps book their spot in the final.

Häcken are off to the final for the third consecutive season, looking to repeat their 2020-21 win. 

Hammarbys players celebrate after 2 1 during the semi-final of the Swedish Cup between Hammarby and Pitea on March 19, 2023 in Stockholm, PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSWExNORxAUT Copyright: ANDREASxLxERIKSSON BB230319AE023
Hammarby's players celebrate after a 2-1 victory during the semi-final of the Swedish Cup between Hammarby and Pitea on March 19, 2023, in Stockholm. (Photo: Andreas L Eriksson/PICTURE AGENCY)

Lastly, Kyra Cooney-Cross' Hammarby defeated Piteå IF 4-1 in the other semi-final fixture. 

Hammarby booked their spot in the final, with their last trip to the final back in 1995, with the side looking to lift the trophy for just the third time. 

Goals to Sara Fornes, Simone Boye Sørensen, Matilda Vinberg and Madelen Janogy sealed the 4-1 victory.