Archers in final four following dramatic penalty shootout victory vs Swansea
CARDIFF Met WFC will face either The New Saints FC or Port Talbot Town Ladies in the semi-finals of the Adran Trophy.
The Archers booked their place in the final four in frantic fashion as they knocked out the favourites, Swansea City Ladies, on Sunday after a penalty shootout.
Prior to the match, Met’s only two losses this season came at the hands of the Swans, so it meant a lot to the whole squad to overcome their rivals in the cup.
Beating Swansea was even sweeter for Met as this was the Swans’ only domestic defeat in over two years.
Met Manager, Yzzy Taylor, 28, said: “That felt good today. They know how that felt and they knew what it took to feel like that today.”
Met took the lead five minutes from halftime with a well-taken penalty from top goal scorer Emily Allen after Elianna Chavez had been fouled in the box.
In a quick-fire turnaround, Swansea scored straight from the re-start, through Chloe Chivers, who cut in from the right wing to fire in the equaliser.
No winner could be found after 90 minutes with the score at 1-1, so the game went straight to penalties.
After a surprising miss from goal scorer Allen for the opening penalty, Met goalkeeper Annabel Sweeney went on to save both of Swansea’s first two penalties from Kelly Adams and Laura Davies.
The following four penalties were scored for both sides, leaving Archers captain, Steph Turner, to have the final say as she fired Met into the semis.
Turner, 31, said: “I am delighted with the win and to reach the semi-final of the Adran Trophy, I think it was thoroughly deserved. It’s always a close and competitive game against Swansea and this was no different.
“The squad is full of confidence at the moment and standards are high.”
Although the Adran Trophy is in its inaugural season, Met are no strangers to the later stages of cup competitions, winning three FAW Cups in 2014, 2017 and 2019.
They will be looking towards Sweeney, Turner and Allen after their standout performances to help guide them to the competition’s first ever final.
The match between The New Saints and Port Talbot Town was postponed this weekend and will be played later in the month to decide who faces Met.
Aberystwyth Town FC will face Cardiff City Ladies FC in the other semi-final tie.
