Fran Kirby starred with a brace of assists as Brighton dumped Arsenal out of the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday, winning 2-0 in the quarter-final.
The Gunners are 14-time champions of this competition and were flying high after knocking Chelsea out of the Champions League last week, but were subject to a bruising defeat here by a Brighton side who trail them by 17 points in the WSL despite having played one match more.
Renee Slegers named a rotated side after a hard-fought defeat by Chelsea on Tuesday night, but it was an ex-Blue in Kirby who turned out to be the architect of their downfall.
Moments after Gunners forward Stina Blackstenius had a goal disallowed for a foul in the build-up, Haley latched on to Kirby's pass and fired past Daphne van Domselaar in the 48th minute.
Kirby was again the provider in the 63rd minute as her corner was met by Hayes, who headed over Van Domselaar and in to settle this quarter-final contest in favour of the underdogs.
Alessia Russo, Olivia Smith and Frida Maanum all came off the bench just before the hour mark, but could not turn the tide in the match and the Gunners crashed out.
Liverpool also booked their spot in the semi-finals as teenager Zara Shaw struck late in extra-time to secure a dramatic 1-0 win over Charlton.
Eighteen-year-old Shaw, on as a substitute on her return from a year out with injury, bundled home in the 115th minute following a goalmouth scramble that saw Jenna Clark hit the woodwork twice.
The remaining quarter-final ties will both take place on Monday evening, pitting Chelsea against Tottenham and Birmingham City against Manchester City.
Additional reporting: Press Association
