Magill strikes as Everton reach Women's FA Cup final

 

The Toffees went into the game after shocking Chelsea in Sunday's quarter-final while Birmingham saw off Brighton and Hove Albion on penalties. 

 

Everton started the brighter and could have taken the lead in the 17th minute when Izzy Christiansen whipped in a cross for Rikke Sevecke who rattled her effort off the woodwork. 

 

Birmingham then responded well on 20 minutes when Claudia Walker worked her way into space to have a shot but her low effort was well kept out by Sandy MacIver in the Toffees goal. 

 

Willie Kirk’s side then could have taken the lead on 32 minutes when Birmingham keeper Hannah Hampton made a fine save to keep out Lucy Graham from close range following a Nicoline Sorensen cross. 

 

Several minutes later Everton who were dominating the game had another big chance when Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah's cross bounced in front of Hampton but the Birmingham keeper stayed alert to tip the ball away from goal. 

 

Magill gave Everton the lead just before the interval as they hit Birmingham on the counter attack before Christiansen played a superb pass into the striker before she lashed the ball beyond Hampton in the Birmingham goal. 

 

Carla Ward's Birmingham City side had the first opportunity of the second half when Scottish International Christie Murray had a go from range but MacIver got down hold the shot. 

 

Birmingham who won the cup in 2012 were putting pressure on Everton as Lucy Whipp hit a well struck volley from long range on 52 minutes but her effort was well held by the Everton keeper. 

 

Ward will have been very happy with what she was seeing from her side as Claudia Walker created another chance for the home side as she turned on the edge of the box but her shot deflected just wide of the target with the resulting corner coming to nothing. 

 

However the Toffees went on to double their lead on 60 minutes when Megan Finnigan played a superb pass over the top of the Birmingham defence into Ingrid Moe Wold before her cross picked out Sorensen at the back-post before she fired in unmarked. 

 

Ward then thought it was time to shake her side up as she made a double substitution bringing off Whipp and Emma Kelly for Abbi Grant and Connie Scofield. 

 

On 72 minutes Everton came close once again as Boye-Hlorkah fired wide from a tight angle after good link-up play with Magill. 

 

Magill was then to be substituted with 15 minutes to go as she was replaced by French international and Toffees record signing Valerie Gauvin as Molly Pike also replaced Maeva Clemaron. 

 

On 87 minutes Everton had a chance to kill the game when Hayley Raso spotted Hampton off her line and tried to chip the keeper but the ball sailed just over the crossbar. 

 

However a minute later it was 3-0 when Gauvin took advantage of a Birmingham City mistake when Rachel Corsie gave the ball away in her own half allowing the French striker to get in one on one and slot beyond Hampton. 

 

Everton who are seeking to win the trophy for the third time now await the winners of Manchester City and 14 time winners Arsenal who play on Thursday evening at Wembley Stadium on November 1.

 

 

 

Hampton, Scott, Lawley, Corsie, Holloway, Whipp, Green, Murray, Mayling, Walker, Kelly. 

 

Subs used 

Grant, Scofield. 

 

 

MacIver, Wold, Finnigan, Sevecke, Turner, Clemaron, Graham, Christiansen, Boye-Hlorkah, Magill, Sorensen. 

 

Subs used

Gauvin, Egurrola, Stringer, Pike, Raso.