Kirby: It was a special performance

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Player of the match thrilled to be one game from another trip to Wembley after Albion beat Arsenal 2-0 in Adobe FA Cup.

Bruce Talbot

2026-04-05T15:30+01:00

Fran Kirby hugs Caitlin Hayes after Hayes doubled Albion's lead against Arsenal. 📷Kyle Hemsley

Fran Kirby hailed a ‘special’ performance by Albion after they reached the semi-finals of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.

Kirby played her part for both second-half goals from Madison Haley and Caitlin Hayes as Dario Vidosic’s side reached the last four for the third time in the club’s history.

"It’s so special," Kirby said. "We believed we could get a result, but to actually come and do it against a team of Arsenal’s quality is really special for everyone involved."

A bobbly surface forced head coach Vidosic to make a tactical change as Albion played more direct in the first half.

"We said, 'Don’t do anything silly in the early stages,'" Kirby added. "We wanted to get them running back toward their own goal. Everyone managed it really well considering the conditions and the way we like to play."

After a scoreless first half Kirby provided the spark for the opening goal, sliding a pass through to Haley who unleashed a powerful strike into the back of the net.

Fran Kirby gets between two Arsenal players to set up another Albion attack. 📷Kyle Hemsley

"I know how strong and powerful Maddy is," Kirby said. "If I do a bit of a dodgy pass for her, but I know she’s going to get on the end of it! It was an unbelievable finish and it gave us massive belief.

After Hayes made it 2-0 goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie made some important saves during the closing stages.

Kirby added, "She’s an incredible shot-stopper. When those saves happen and you aren't 1-0 down in a moment where you probably should be, you think, 'Okay, we’ve got a sniff here.'"

Kirby took a moment to dedicate the win to Dario’s father Rado, whose birthday would have been on Saturday.

"I really hope he is proud of us and everything we achieved today," Kirby said in a touching tribute. "Dario is an incredible man, as was his dad."

The semi-final draw takes place on Monday and for serial Wembley finalist Kirby the hunger to go back to the national stadium is only growing.

"The belief is there in the changing room. We’re going to do absolutely everything to get to that final,” she added.