Liverpool Women beat Charlton Women 1-0 in dramatic fashion at The Valley, as young Zara Shaw scored in extra time on her return to action after a long-term ACL injury.
Charlton Women 0-1 Liverpool Women
Women’s FA Cup Quarter-Finals, The Valley
April 5, 2026
Goals: Shaw 115′
Following a dismal start to the season, Liverpool have turned their form around since the January transfer window.
Four of their mid-season signings started in the FA Cup quarter-final at The Valley, as Gareth Taylor’s side came up against second-division Charlton.
Before kick-off, the teams remembered the 97 who died at Hillsborough, this being Liverpool Women‘s closest fixture to the 37th anniversary on April 15.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 5, 2026: Liverpool players line-up for a period of silence for the 97 people who lost their lives at the Hillsborough disaster 37 years before the FA Women’s FA Cup Quarter-Final match between Charlton Athletic FC Women and Liverpool FC Women at The Valley. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Jennifer Falk started in goal behind a centre-back pairing of Gemma Evans and Jenna Clark, who wore the captain’s armband in the absence of Grace Fisk.
The usual skipper was suspended having been dismissed for two yellow-card offences in Liverpool’s 3-2 win against Everton last weekend.
A strong midfield of Fuka Nagano, Denise O’Sullivan and Kirsty MacClean played, while Cornelia Kapocs and Mia Enderby supported striker Aurelie Csillag from the wings.
In front of 2,164 at The Valley – the highest attendance at a Charlton Women match for 20 years – Liverpool dominated proceedings but struggled to create clear-cut chances against their lower-league opposition.
The rapid 20-year-old forward, Enderby, had the first chance as she forced Charlton goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse into a great save from a powerful header.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 5, 2026: Liverpool's Denise O'Sullivan sees her shot go over the bar during the FA Women’s FA Cup Quarter-Final match between Charlton Athletic FC Women and Liverpool FC Women at The Valley. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
With Liverpool probing around the box but not really creating anything of note, they nearly got the opener through a stroke of fortune, but Lucia Lobato’s headed clearance hit the bar instead of looping into her own goal.
Just before the break, O’Sullivan nearly scored, too, when she followed her own header with a close-range effort that she couldn’t keep down.
Half time: Charlton Women 0-0 Liverpool Women
The second half saw Liverpool ramp up the pressure further, though they still looked blunt inside the penalty area.
Both sides made triple substitutions just before the hour mark, as top scorer Beata Olsson replaced the ineffective Csillag up front, while Alejandra Bernabe came on for Lily Woodham at left-back and O’Sullivan was withdrawn for Tottenham loanee Martha Thomas.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 5, 2026: Liverpool's manager Gareth Taylor grabs the ball during the FA Women’s FA Cup Quarter-Final match between Charlton Athletic FC Women and Liverpool FC Women at The Valley. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
This meant the Reds went to more of a diamond in midfield with Olsson and Thomas up top. It allowed Liverpool to better pen the hosts back, but still the Reds failed to score.
End of normal time: Charlton Women 0-0 Liverpool Women
Extra time began as normal time ended, with Liverpool on top and Charlton defending for their lives.
Thomas even had the ball in the net twice, but both were correctly disallowed, the first being a great flicked finish that was offside and the second a shot that hit her hand before striking.
Liverpool were peppering the goal but weren’t clinical, putting just four of their 26 shots on target.
Eventually, though, they were rewarded for their persistence after an almighty goal line scramble that was smothered over the line by Zara Shaw, following Clark’s header that rebounded off the bar.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 5, 2026: Liverpool's Zara Shaw celebrates with team-mates after scoring the first goal following her return after her ACL injury during the FA Women’s FA Cup Quarter-Final match between Charlton Athletic FC Women and Liverpool FC Women at The Valley. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It was a fitting end to the afternoon for 18-year-old midfielder Shaw, who came off the bench to return from an ACL injury that has seen her miss the last year of football.
With tears of joy from the Liverpudlian and her knee scar in full view, Shaw celebrated wildly with her teammates as they booked their place in the semi-finals.
The Reds will learn the identity of their next opponents at about 4.30pm (BST) on Easter Monday.
Player of the match: Enderby
Liverpool Women: Falk; Bergstrom (Shimizu 77′), Clark, Evans, Woodham (Bernabe 58′); Nagano, O’Sullivan (Thomas 58′), MacLean; Enderby (Shaw 103′), Kapocs, Csillag (Olsson 58′)
Subs not used: Ireland, Kirby, McDonald, Trueman
Next match: West Ham (H) – WSL – April 26, 2pm (BST)