Sunderland can shock City in FA Cup quarters - Smith
Sunderland must embrace the underdog tag if they want to set up an SSE Women’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea, according to England legend Sue Smith.
The Lady Black Cats were due to play current champions Manchester City in the quarter-finals on Sunday but the wintry weather saw the match postponed until this weekend.
Their prize if they do win that match is a last-four encounter with 2015 champions and current Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea on April 15.
But while a daunting prospect, Smith – twice a women’s FA Cup runner-up with Leeds United – believes Sunderland have the personnel to challenge the Blues.
“You always support the underdog in sport and Sunderland would be the underdog for their tie,” she said. “But they’ve had a good cup run and they have some good players.
“It’s just about belief. Man City are flying high in the league but Sunderland will put everything into the tie and it will be great for the club if they can progress. It is a oneoff game and anything can happen.
“For me a potential Chelsea versus Man City clash is the tie of the round. They are two of the best teams in the country, they’re playing in the Champions League, doing well in the WSL, it will be a great spectacle.
“When they played each other in the league, I watched a lot of other football too that weekend but that was probably the best game I watched from a skill and entertainment perspective.”
This year both semi-finals will be broadcast live on the BBC, with Smith believing it is further proof of the progress of the women’s game.
“The SSE Women’s FA Cup is growing each year and that’s really pleasing to see,” she added.
WSL2 side Durham, who host Everton on Sunday, will be at home to the winners of the Arsenal v Charlton clash, in the other semi-final.
Tickets are now on sale for the SSE Women’s FA Cup Final on Saturday May 5 at Wembley Stadium connected by EE. For more information about tickets and SSE’s involvement in women’s football visit www. sponsorship.sse.com.