Sunderland reach FA Women's final

By Tony Leighton

Sunderland will meet Arsenal in the FA Women's Cup final after the Black Cats produced the shock of the season with a 3-0 semi win over Chelsea.

The Northern Division side beat the Premier League's third-placed team at the Stadium of Light to make the final for the first time in their history.

Arsenal reached their fourth final in succession and 10th in all after a 3-1 victory over Everton in their semi.

In the Women's Premier League, Bristol Academy and Watford both secured wins.

FA Women's Cup semi-finals

Sunderland 3-0 Chelsea

Sunderland made the very most of their debut appearance at the Stadium of Light, clinching an historic victory with three goals in the final 18 minutes.

Natalie Gutteridge hit the opener after pouncing on the loose ball when Kelly McDougall's shot bounced off the woodwork.

Sophie Williams edged the Black Cats closer to victory when she scored from a Demi Stokes cross with 10 minutes remaining.

And in stoppage time Williams made sure it would be Sunderland in the final when she completed the scoring with a neat chip.

Arsenal 3-1 Everton

A dreadful mistake by England goalkeeper Rachel Brown led to Arsenal going ahead in the 24th minute.

Brown horribly sliced a clearance straight in to the path of left winger Rachel Yankey, who simply had to tap the ball into an empty net.

The Gunners doubled their lead nine minutes later, captain Jayne Ludlow powerfully heading into the roof of the net from midfielder Kim Little's corner.

Everton almost reduced the arrears when striker Natasha Dowie sent a 40th minute cross shot inches wide of the far post.

But two minutes into first-half stoppage time the Cup holders went further ahead as central defender Gilly Flaherty turned a Little free-kick into the net.

The Toffees hauled themselves back into the game nine minutes after the break, striker Natasha Dowie getting the final touch to captain Fara Williams' free-kick.

But Arsenal, despite coming under pressure on several occasions during the final half-hour, ran out deserving winners to reach the 4 May final.

Women's Premier League

Bristol Academy 1-1 Doncaster Rovers Belles

Academy led at the break through a Gwennan Haries 35th-minute strike, but the Belles earned a point thanks to Chelsea Weston's 72nd-minute free-kick.

Liverpool 0-1 Watford

Watford gained swift revenge for last week's 3-0 defeat by the Reds, Charlotte Young's 57th-minute header giving the Hornets all three points.