Liverpool's Adobe Women's FA Cup match-winner Zara Shaw on her fairytale comeback - 'It's been really tough, but that makes it all worth it'
Published 05/04/2026 at 21:42 GMT+1
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Zara Shaw made her mark on her comeback from a long-term knee injuryby putting Liverpool into the Adobe Women's FA Cup semi-finals. The 18-year-old, who had suffered the second ACL injury of her career a year ago, came off the bench to score a memorable winner against Charlton Athletic at The Valley. In Sunday's other game, Brighton and Hove Albion pulled off a cup upset to knock out Arsenal.
Shaw breaks deadlock in extra time on return from injury after chaotic goalmouth scramble
Video credit: TNT Sports
Liverpool's Zara Shaw was lost for words at The Valley - after making up for lost time.
The 18-year-old marked her comeback from a long-term injury with the only goal of the game against Charlton Athletic as The Reds booked a place in the Adobe Women's FA Cup semi-finals.
In Sunday's other quarter-final, Brighton & Hove Albion beat Arsenal 2-0 at Meadow Park thanks to second-half goals from Madison Haley and Caitlin Hayes.
Liverpool's tie against Charlton had gone into extra time after a goalless 90 minutes.
Shaw, who had suffered the second ACL injury of her career a year ago playing for England Under-19s, was sent on in the 103rd minute with her side needing a goal from somewhere.
And the midfielder was in the right place at the right time to bundle the ball home in the 115th minute after Liverpool had twice hit the woodwork, and also had an effort cleared off the line, in a goalmouth scramble.
"It's been really tough, but that makes it all worth it," Shaw told TNT Sports.
"That's why you go through the hard times, and you stick with it in the gym when you don't want to be in there. You're first in, last out every day. It's tough. But that makes it all worth it. I've got the best support network."
Asked about her long spell out, Shaw said: "I don't know what to say, if I'm honest. For those that have been close to me over the past few seasons, it's been really, really tough.
"I've gone through things that I didn't think I'd ever have to go through, not once, but twice. Just thank you for all the girls. They've put a shift in today. I'm all over the place right now. Credit to the girls, I couldn't have done it without them."
On her goal, Shaw added: "It's always messy at the end of games like this, people are trying to get a touch on it, throw your body on the line and get something. It was messy, but it was me that put it in!"
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Highlights: Brighton stage FA Cup upset to knock out Arsenal and reach semi-finals
Video credit: TNT Sports
Brighton's 'special' cup upset
Brighton's win over Arsenal will go down as one of the stand-out results in their history.
Five-time FA Cup winner Fran Kirby, TNT Sports' Player of the Match, said: "It's so special. It's something that we spoke about. We knew we could come here and get a result, but to do it against a team like Arsenal, who have quality all over, is really special. I'm so proud of all of the team."
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TNT Sports pundit Lucy Ward was "impressed" with the mature performance of Dario Vidosic's side against Arsenal in north London.
"I was so impressed with Brighton, and they way they played, how they were set up," she said.
"They worked hard, they got the goals. Arsenal looked a little bit tired, and a bit disjointed. They had to make the changes, they didn't really make a difference, but full credit to Brighton."
Stream the Premier League, men’s and women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more live on TNT Sports and HBO Max
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