By Agnes Amondi,

Nigerian international Ini Umotong sealed Brighton and Hove Albion’s Women’s FA Cup quarter final slot with a routine finish in their 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Tuesday night. 

Hope Powell’s charges have reached the last 16 of the competition for the first time since the 1993/1994 campaign, when they lost to eventual winners Doncaster Rovers Belles   and equalled their best-ever finish in the history of the competition. 

The win sets up a tie against Birmingham City at The People’s Pension Stadium on March 15.
Debutant Rianna Jarrett netted a brace in the 14th to break the deadlock and just 36 seconds after restart to double.

Hopes of an unlikely Palace comeback were effectively extinguished with 69 minutes on the clock courtesy of Umotong, who showed some brilliant composure to weave her way through the Eagles defence and deftly placed the ball past Gillett to make it 3-0.

Umotong, who played from the start to finish of the encounter, has now scored six goals in all competitions for the English side.

Additional reporting; Brighton & Hove Albion website

Soka25east.com