At a glance
- Brighton came from 2-0 down to beat Liverpool 3-2 and reach the Women’s FA Cup final
- Fran Kirby admitted she felt “awful” during the first half of the semi-final
- Nadine Noordam scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to send Brighton to Wembley
Brighton and Hove Albion’s historic run to the Adobe Women’s FA Cup final sparked an emotional reaction from Fran Kirby after the Seagulls completed a stunning 3-2 comeback victory over Liverpool.
Trailing 2-0 and struggling badly in the opening half, Brighton looked destined for heartbreak before a spirited turnaround capped by Nadine Noordam’s stoppage-time winner sent the club to Wembley for the first time.
While the dramatic finale will dominate the headlines, much of the post-match focus centred on the honesty and emotion in Brighton’s camp afterwards, particularly from Kirby, who openly admitted she felt she had fallen short during a difficult first-half display.
Fran Kirby Delivers Brutally Honest Verdict
Speaking to TNT Sports after the final whistle, the England international did not hide her frustration with her own performance but praised the resilience around her as Brighton recovered in remarkable fashion.
“I was a bit worried in the first half, I’m not going to lie. I thought we were struggling a lot. Me individually, I was awful. I think I dragged my team down today. I was really glad that the girls could help me get over the line.”
Kirby’s brutally honest assessment underlined just how dramatic the turnaround had been. Liverpool had looked sharper and more composed before the interval, punishing Brighton’s mistakes and exposing nerves in possession.
Read More: Brighton Women Hold Arsenal as Strong WSL Finish Continues
Brighton Find Another Level After the Break
The second half brought a completely different energy from Dario Vidosic’s side as Brighton increased the intensity of their pressing and began to force Liverpool backwards.
Kirby believed that shift in mentality made all the difference.
“Credit to Liverpool, I think they played really well in the first half. We were really sloppy in possession, myself included. We gave them two sloppy goals. I think overall we were really disappointed with the first half, but we knew we could go to another level.
“It was about being more aggressive. Everyone committing to the front press, everyone committing to going into duels. That went up another level. Also, be brave. I think second half we deserved that with the performance.”
The late winner from Noordam triggered emotional scenes among Brighton’s players and staff and Kirby was quick to point towards the spirit inside the squad as a driving force behind the club’s remarkable cup run.
“The culture in the group is incredible, everyone wants to work for each other. It’s one of the reasons we’ve had such a successful end to the season. The girls are great, it’s just a really nice group of people.”
Dario Vidosic Hails Brighton Character
Brighton head coach Dario Vidosic echoed those sentiments as he reflected on the dramatic finale which secured the Seagulls a place at Wembley.
The Australian admitted his side looked tense early on but praised the response after the break as Brighton found rhythm and belief.
“We knew that irrespective of what happens, that we just keep going until the final whistle. It was always if we could just get one, if we could just settle into the game. I thought in the first half maybe the nerves got a little bit the better of us.”
Vidosic revealed tactical tweaks at half-time helped Brighton regain control and admitted there was a sense the comeback was building long before Noordam’s decisive moment arrived.
“We looked a little bit timid. We were a little bit late with the press. Then in the second half we fixed up a couple of things and they were a joy to watch. It is a nice feeling when almost the last kick of the game hits the back of the net and sends us to Wembley. It’s incredible.”
Also Read: “It Didn’t Look Great” — Brighton Boss Delivers Worrying Mitoma Injury Update After 3-0 Wolves Win
Liverpool Left Frustrated After Collapse
Liverpool manager Gareth Taylor was left to reflect on a second-half collapse after seeing his side lose control of a match they once appeared comfortable in.
Taylor admitted Brighton’s growing pressure became difficult to contain as Liverpool struggled to maintain possession and composure.
“We tried to stem the tide in the second half, but we still weren’t effective enough in retaining possession. It became a little bit more direct, which is not what we’re about.
“That just allowed Brighton to gain too much control and we ended up with too many set-plays against us. We look a bit vulnerable from them over the last few weeks and it’s ended up being our downfall.”
Follow all the latest Brighton & Hove Albion news through Read Brighton.
