Women’s FA Cup: Why Brighton’s first final felt like it was coming

On a six-game unbeaten run and nine points clear of their opponents, Brighton arrived at Liverpool’s St Helens Stadium as favorites – but their Wembley dreams were in serious jeopardy when they fell 2-0 behind after 22 minutes.

Manuela Venegas gave Brighton hope when she halved the deficit with a determined finish 105 seconds after Beata Olsson scored the Reds’ second goal on 105 seconds.

The Seagulls looked revived after the break and were rewarded when Maddison Haley nodded in the leveller.

“They found it difficult in the first half but they stuck to the task with intensity and energy,” former England defender Anita Asante told TNT Sports.

Manager Dario Vidosic said he “felt like it was coming” when Brighton were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the hosts’ box in the final seconds.

“I didn’t even think about extra time, even though it was so close to it. It felt like the momentum, how dominant we were, the goal was bound to come,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Noordham, who had never scored for Brighton before, had only been on the pitch for a few minutes when a set-piece clearance came to him and he calmly slotted the ball into the top-left corner.

“What a moment from Nadine Noordham,” said former England midfielder Farah Williams on TNT Sports.

“Brighton had a slow start but they came back. It’s a credit to them. They really believe in what they’re doing.

“That’s what this competition is about. That’s the history of this competition – those last-minute moments that get to Wembley.”