liverpool women reached the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday after 18-year-old Zara Shaw scored a late extra-time winner at Charlton. The decisive goal came at The Valley after a goalless 90 minutes and gave Liverpool a 1-0 victory over the WSL 2 side. It was Shaw’s first appearance in nearly 12 months, ending a long spell out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Shaw settles a tight tie in extra time
The match stayed level through normal time, with both sides struggling to produce much quality in the final third. Liverpool carried much of the pressure, but Charlton defended stubbornly and limited the visitors to few clear openings.
The breakthrough arrived in the added period when Liverpool forced a scramble from a corner. Two Liverpool players struck the woodwork, the ball was cleared off the line, and Shaw bundled it in from close range as Charlton failed to fully clear their lines. liverpool women had also seen two goals ruled out, one for offside in normal time and one for handball early in extra time, but neither decision was in doubt.
Shaw returns after nearly a year out
Shaw came off the bench in the 103rd minute to make her comeback from the ACL injury she suffered in April 2025, the second such injury of her career. Her finish was the only goal in a match that Liverpool controlled for long spells without finding enough end product.
Charlton, who are chasing promotion in WSL 2, defended with discipline and intensity. Even so, they created little of note at the other end and managed only one touch in Liverpool’s box in the second half.
What the numbers and chances showed
Liverpool generated 2. 34 expected goals in normal time, but that territorial advantage did not translate into a breakthrough before extra time. Mia Enderby went closest early on when Sophie Whitehouse pushed her close-range effort over the bar, while Martha Thomas also had a tame late effort saved.
Charlton’s best early moments came through former Liverpool forward Amalie Thestrup, who caused a few problems before the home side settled into a deep defensive shape. In the end, liverpool women had enough pressure to force the mistake that decided the tie.
Immediate reactions and what comes next
The result put Liverpool into the FA Cup semi-finals after Brighton also booked their place earlier on Sunday with a 2-0 win over Arsenal. The remaining quarter-finals were set for Monday, with Chelsea hosting Tottenham and Manchester City visiting Birmingham City, and the semi-final draw was scheduled for 16: 30 BST on Monday.
For Liverpool, the focus now shifts to the draw and the possibility of a further step toward the final. For Shaw, the night marked a timely return and a defining moment, and liverpool women will now wait to learn who stands between them and the next round.
