Matildas Abroad Preview: Women’s FA Cup Semi Finals begin

With CommBank Matildas returning to their clubs across the globe after our two-game series against Brazil in Sydney, a spot in the Women's FA Cup final is on the line for 3 teams featuring Aussies.

As our Aussies head back to their clubs, check out exactly when our Matildas Abroad will be playing over the coming days!

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Alanna Kennedy and Hayley Raso's Manchester City are looking to retain the Women's FA Cup title, after claiming the trophy beating Everton 3-1 in extra time. Gareth Taylor's side heads into the game on the back of a mixed run of results, with injury woes still keeping some key faces, sidelined.

Raso is still suffering from a shoulder injury that kept her out of our homecoming series hosting Brazil, City come up against an in-form Chelsea side. 

Sam Kerr celebrates scoring her sides first goal during the Vitality Women's FA Cup Quarter Final match against Birmingham City (Photo: GettyImages)
Sam Kerr celebrates scoring her sides first goal during the Vitality Women's FA Cup Quarter Final match against Birmingham City (Photo: GettyImages)

Emma Hayes' side is unbeaten in all competitions since their WSL opening round defeat to Arsenal, winning five of their last six games. 

Sam Kerr has been in scoring form for the Blues, scoring seven goals across all competitions for Chelsea. 

Although the 2020/21 campaign has ended, The Blues clinched the FA Community Shield, Continental Tyres League Cup and Barclays FA Women’s Super League last season, with the Women's FA Cup last on the agenda to complete the domestic quadruple.

Chelsea hasn't visited the final of the Women's FA Cup since their win in the 2017-18 season, defeating Arsenal 3-1 in the final. 

The winners of this fixture will face either Arsenal or Brighton at Wembley on the 5th of December. 

This game kicks off on Sunday night at 11:45 pm (AEDT), Australian audiences can watch on The FA Player.

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The other semi-final in the Women's FA Cup will see Arsenal welcome Brighton & Hove Albion. After being eliminated in last season's semi-finals by eventual champions Manchester City, the Gunners are looking to take their sublime WSL form into their clash with Brighton. 

Lydia Williams made the start in goals for Arsenal in the quarter-finals win over Tottenham Hotspur, while Caitlin Foord was on the scoresheet against the Spurs. 

Williams, Foord and Steph Catley return to Arsenal after our two-game series against Brazil. Williams impressed in goals both games against Brazil while Catley picked up a stunning assist in our first game, the trio will be looking to take this form into their fixture against Brighton. 

Caitlin Foord celebrates her goal against Spurs in the Women's FA Cup (Photo: GettyImages)
Caitlin Foord celebrates her goal against Spurs in the Women's FA Cup (Photo: GettyImages)

The Gunners sit undefeated at the top of the WSL table, while Brighton sits in fifth with three wins and two losses. 

Arsenal last claimed the Women's FA Cup title in the 2015-16 season, they have won the competition a record 14 times. 

Former England manager Hope Powell is the head coach of the Seagulls, a side that has improved domestically over the years but has never claimed a major honour. 

Both sides have Dutch strikers leading the line, Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema and Brighton's Inessa Kaagman are all too familiar with one another. 

Gunners head coach Jonas Eidevall hopes his star-studded side can secure a place in the final. 

This game kicks off on Monday morning at 3:45 am (AEDT), Australian audiences can watch on The FA Player.

Moving over to France, both Ellie Carpenter and Mary Fowler are back in action after stunning appearances back on home soil against Brazil. 

Fowler's Montpellier is looking to bounce back from their 5-0 defeat before the international break to Lyon when they take on newly-promoted Saint-Étienne. 

Montpellier last goal scored in the Division 1 Féminine was thanks to Fowler, who scored late in her side's 2-1 loss to Fleury 91. 

Fowler's form shown in our friendlies against Brazil will be needed for her side. Montpellier takes on Saint-Étienne on Saturday night at 11:30 pm (AEDT). 

Meanwhile, Carpenter's first place Lyon welcome last place Soyaux-Charente. Lyon comes off the back of two 5-0 wins, once against  Montpellier in the domestic league and the other against Benfica in the UWCL. 

Lyon will be looking for their seventh straight win, with the battle against PSG for first place honours in full force since the start of the season. OL sit on the top of the table with the better goal difference, having scored 28 goals to PSG's 20. 

Lyon takes on Soyaux on Sunday night at 10:45 pm (AEDT). 

Moving over to Sweden, Clare Polkinghorne is coming off two remarkable performances against Brazil, scoring the opener in both games. 

Polkinghorne's Vittsjö GIK are looking to claim third place, and clinch a UWCL spot, when they take on AIK. 

Vittsjö is unbeaten in their last three games and has two games left to clinch a UWCL spot. 

The game kicks off on Saturday night at 10:00 pm (AEDT). 

Charli Grant and Teagan Micah's FC Rosengård have already claimed the Damallsvenskan Championship this season after their 3-2 win against Piteå. 


Rosengård will host Eskilstuna, and give fans and players the chance to celebrate the championship for the first time. 

The game kicks off on Tuesday morning at 5:00 am (AEDT).  

Dylan Holmes' BK Häcken will remain in second place for the season, with no team able to overtake them, and have already secured a spot in next season's UWCL. 

Häcken host 9th place Djurgårdens. Häcken is still searching for their first win in the UWCL group stage this season, with this game against Djurgårdens the perfect chance to help build cohesion in the squad. 

The game kicks off on Monday morning at 1:00 am (AEDT).  

Our final destination takes us to Denmark, Angela Beard, Indiah-Paige Riley and Clare Wheeler's Fortuna Hjørring welcome last place Aab. 

With only five matches left, Hjørring will need to be clinical to keep their spot in second. The first and second ranked teams in the Elitedivisionen receive a UWCL spot for next season. 

The game kicks off on Sunday morning at 12:00 am (AEDT). 

Lastly, Jenna McCormick's AGF take on KoldingQ and are looking to break their four game losing streak. 

When the two sides met earlier in the season AGF walked away 2-1 winners, with a 94th minute goal from Tina Fremo securing all three points for AGF.

The game kicks off on Tuesday morning at 5:00 am (AEDT).