Holders Chelsea to face Aston Villa in Women's FA Cup semi-finals

Cian Cheesbrough

LiveScore

Holders Chelsea beat Reading 3-1 to secure their FA Cup semi-final place

Holders Chelsea will face Aston Villa in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals, while Manchester United are taking on Brighton.

The Blues beat Reading 3-1 to reach the final four of this year's competition and are looking to secure their third successive triumph.

But they face a difficult task away at the Villans, who dumped out last year's finalists Manchester City in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 extra-time victory.

In-form England international Rachel Daly's 97th-minute winner secured a famous victory for Carla Ward's side after Deyna Castellanos had cancelled out Rachel Corsie's opener in normal time at the Bescot Stadium.

Marc Skinner's Red Devils were handed a favourable home draw against 11th-placed Women's Super League side Brighton.

United, who are second in the WSL table, dispatched Championship outfit Lewes 3-1 in the previous round as they look to land their first FA Cup crown.

The Seagulls also saw off a second-tier side in Birmingham, with Poppy Pattinson and Danielle Carter on target in a 2-0 win.

Neither United, Brighton nor Villa have ever reached the FA Cup showpiece, meaning a first-time finalist is guaranteed.

The semi-final ties will take place on Sunday, April 16 as the four sides battle for a place in the final at Wembley on Sunday, May 14.