Manchester United celebrate Leah Galton's opener against Sunderland in the Adobe Women's FA Cup
Adobe Women’s FA Cup holders Manchester United continued the defence of their crown with a 3-1 win over Sunderland to advance to the semi-finals.
First-half goals from Leah Galton and Maya Le Tissier set the hosts on their way at Leigh Sports Village only for Sunderland to threaten a fightback when Louise Griffiths pulled one back on 70 minutes.
But Ella Toone’s late header settled any nerves as Marc Skinner’s side proved too strong for the only Barclays Women’s Championship side left in the competition.
United needed just seven minutes to take the lead, Galton directing her header back into the bottom corner from Celin Bizet’s cross.
Galton almost turned provider after quarter of an hour when her cross was directed goalwards by Melvine Malard, who was denied by the crossbar
Le Tissier and Bizet both fired efforts off target as the hosts kept up the pressure and they were rewarded in added time at the end of the first half.
It came from a set piece as Gabby George’s corner was met by an unmarked Le Tissier, whose header left Demi Lambourne with no chance.
Sunderland improved in the second period and having seen Jenna Dear fire over just after the hour mark, they halved the deficit in somewhat fortuitous circumstances with 20 minutes to play.
Two substitutes linked up successfully, with Katy Watson squaring for Louise Griffiths, who was the beneficiary as a United clearance cannoned off her shins and beyond Phallon Tullis-Joyce into the corner.
Stung into action, the hosts went in search of restoring their two-goal advantage and a substitute of their own, Rachel Williams, saw her header smartly kept out by Lambourne.
The visiting goalkeeper was then forced to punch away several swirling crosses and corners as United stayed on the front foot, with Ella Toone firing wide shortly afterwards.
But she was not to be denied in injury time as Bizet provided her second assist of the match, an inch-perfect cross which the Lionesses star headed home to seal the outcome.