Five goals as Albion cruise into quarter-finals

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Brianna Visalli and Geummin Lee both scored twice in 5-0 win over Championship side Coventry United.

Bruce Talbot

2023-02-26T16:15:00Z

Substitute Geummin Lee made it 5-0 with this stunning stoppage-time volley.

Albion are through to the quarter-finals of the Vitality FA Cup after three late goals sealed a 5-0 victory over Championship side Coventry United at a chilly Broadfield Stadium.

Midfielder Brianna Visalli opened the scoring in the 17th minute and Albion squandered other opportunities against their dogged opponents before Visalli made the tie safe with another well-taken effort 11 minutes from time.

Albion capitalised against tiring opponents in the closing stages. Substitute Geummin Lee got the third with a smart turn and finish with three minutes to go then substitute Fran Orthodoxou turned the ball into her own net. Lee saved the best until last, making it 5-0 deep into stoppage time with a superb volley from 25 yards – a goal of the season contender for sure.

Brianna Visalli takes aim to put Albion ahead with a shot from distance.

Albion made a purposeful start with Katie Robinson stretching the Coventry defence. She had two efforts in the first 15 minutes saved by Demi Lambourne but the hosts made their territorial dominance count with a lovely opening goal in the 17th minute.

Skipper Julia Zigiotti spotted Visalli's run down the inside-right channel and the American broke into the box and hit a left-foot curler into the top left-hand corner. It was no more than Albion deserved.

We should have had further goals before the break after dominating possession for long spells. Zigiotti, once again pulling the strings in midfield with her range of passing, twice went close from distance and Elisabeth Terland, making a welcome return to action after three months on the sidelines, fired over from a good position.

Coventry proved hard to break down and offered the occasional threat on the break. Their best chance before the interval came when Morgan Cross stabbed the ball wide from Lucy Whipp’s left-wing cross.

Katie Robinson is challenged by United defender Lisa Naalsund.

More dogged defending prevented first Danielle Carter and then Visalli from scoring four minutes into the second half but as it had in the first 45 Albion’s pressure fizzled out somewhat and the visitors went close on 63 minutes when substitute Ellen Jones’ effort was blocked after Mary McAteer did well on the right to create the chance.

Albion needed a second to put the tie to bed and Megan Connolly nearly got it when she beat Lambourne to the ball and poked it goalwards but it rolled wide of the post.

But the second goal did arrive 11 minutes from time and it was another fine finish by Visalli, who latched onto a clever pass by substitute Lee and took a couple of steps before firing past Lambourne into the far corner.

Poppy Pattinson celebrates with Veatriki Sarri after she put Albion ahead.

In the closing stages Albion cashed in against tiring opponents. Lee got her first when she controlled Katie Robinson’s cross, turned smartly and volleyed past Lambourne in the 87th minute.

Orthodoxou turned Emma Kullberg’s cross past her own keeper with Robinson set to pounce to make it 4-0 in the first minute of stoppage time and there was still time for Lee to score the goal of the game, a brilliant volley from 25 yards back over Lambourne from the keeper’s clearance. Kayleigh Green and Robinson could also have scored in stoppage time as Albion ended the game with a flourish.

Albion: Williams, Morse, Bergsvand, Kullberg, Pattinson, Visalli (Green 79), Connolly, Zigiotti, Robinson, Terland (Bance 84), Carter (Lee 66). Subs not used: Walsh, Fox, Sarri, Park, Startup.