Adam Sayer speaks to Brighton’s Nadine Noordam ahead of the Women’s FA Cup final from Wembley Stadium - Sunday 3pm
Brighton and Hove Albion Women’s Nadine Noordam would rank a win in this Sunday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City as the best moment of her career (writes Adam Sayer).
Noordam was the hero in the semi-final, coming off the bench to score in the fifth minute of added time in a dramatic 3-2 win against Liverpool.
The goal earned her side a trip to Wembley Stadium for their first ever FA Cup final against this season’s WSL champions.
Despite winning the domestic league and cup during her time at Ajax, Noordam admitted that taking home the trophy on Sunday would top all her past successes.
Noordam: It’s like a dream
She said: “I think that would be the best thing that happened in my career. That would mean a lot. I'll talk to you after the game.
“I think that would be really big and amazing. Just a reward for everything we've put into it. All these days, years, everything. It is falling into place now.”
She added: “It's a great opportunity. It's like you dream of as a kid, right? To play finals, to win cups - to win.
“So, we're all really looking forward to going to Wembley and playing there. And it's a final so anything can happen of course.
“But we also really want to win it, and we're prepared. We're ready, and so excited.”
The Dutch midfielder started nine of Brighton’s 22 league games and just one FA Cup game this campaign.
With the EFL play-off finals taking place over Bank Holiday weekend, Noordam and her teammates will have had a two-week-gap between the conclusion of the WSL season and their assignment at Wembley.
Good preparation for Wembley
“It is what it is,” she said. “I also like to play as many of the games as possible, but I think it's good because then we can actually have a good preparation for Wembley.
“And we have two weeks now to prepare, to get everything ready. Some girls can rest because some have had a long season with lots of games and also national teams.
“So, I think it's good to make everyone physically and mentally ready.”
She added: “I don't think you need to motivate anyone to play a final in Wembley - that's pretty easy. You need to make yourself ready for that one last moment of the season, and I think mentally that's quite easy to do.
“Of course, it's been a long season. But after that game, for me personally, I'm done. So, I can go on holiday.
“Some girls have national teams, but I don’t. So, it's quite easy to make yourself ready for that game.”
Nadine Noordam of Brighton & Hove Albion celebrates scoring her team's third goal with teammates during the Women's FA Cup Semi Final match at Liverpoolplaceholder image
Nadine Noordam of Brighton & Hove Albion celebrates scoring her team's third goal with teammates during the Women's FA Cup Semi Final match at Liverpool | Getty Images
Underdogs can win at Wembley
Noordam also shared her memories of the competition and revealed that she visited the home of English football with her mother a decade ago.
She said: “I knew that the FA Cup is a big thing in the UK. I really like the concept that underdogs can actually win a prize.
“In history, that’s happened a lot. I remember last year with Crystal Palace, for example, in the men's game. So that's really nice.
“Ten years ago, I visited Wembley. I had a tour with my mum. I actually realised when I heard, ‘if we go to the final, it's at Wembley.’ I was like, ‘oh, I've been there. That stadium is really big.’
“That's the thing I remember. As a kid, you want to play in those stadiums. You want to play for a lot of people.”
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