Brighton 0-4 Manchester United: Red Devils reach Women’s FA Cup semi-finals

Manchester United cruised past fellow Women’s Super League side Brighton to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Women’s FA Cup.

Nikita Parris then doubled their lead nine minutes later, receiving a Melvine Malard through ball before tucking an effort past Sophie Baggaley at the near post.

Brighton had some moments of promise but were ultimately second best and trailed by three goals at the break, Lucia Garcia scrambling the ball over the line after Malard’s shot rebounded off the post.

Marc Skinner’s side remained firmly in control and struck once more as Lisa Naalsund atoned for an earlier miss by rifling home from the edge of the box as Brighton failed to clear a set-piece.

United, last year’s FA Cup runners-up, will find out their semi-final opponents in Tuesday’s draw, which takes place at around 08:20 GMT during BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

Interim Brighton boss Mikey Harris endured a 2-0 defeat by United in his first game in charge last month.

Once again, the Seagulls were thoroughly outclassed by a United side who grew into a position of control after taking the advantage, playing confident football while shutting down their hosts’ efforts.

United were clinical, too, regularly forcing Baggaley to make saves, as she tipped a Hannah Blundell half-volley over the crossbar and reacted quickly to catch an acrobatic Malard effort.

Brighton’s opportunities were limited and they failed to test Mary Earps before the break, blocked shots being the closest they came to finding a way back.

Brighton were rocked by United’s early breakthrough and didn’t improve in the second half, Baggaley being called upon again to deny Malard and turn a curling Parris strike around the post.

The visitors eventually made it four and strolled towards victory.

The win was United’s first in three games, having slipped behind the pace in the league after losing to Arsenal and drawing with West Ham.

They are unlikely to finish any higher than fourth in the WSL, but now being just one game away from a possible Wembley final adds a silver lining to an otherwise uninspiring season.