Brighton reach Women’s FA Cup final and set ambitions high: ‘We want to be historic’

Brighton & Hove Albion’s first ticket to Wembley Stadium has been punched, substitute Nadim Noordam’s last-gasp stoppage-time winner sealing a breathless 3-2 comeback victory against Liverpool in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals. The prerogative of those in blue and white is that of joyful abandon; the unpolished celebrations of players, staff and fans unfamiliar with these moments. It’s at this

Everyone is sprinting. Tears stream. Knees kneel in grassy altars as history collides with the present.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s first ticket to Wembley Stadium has been punched, substitute Nadim Noordam’s last-gasp stoppage-time winner sealing a breathless 3-2 comeback victory against Liverpool in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals. The prerogative of those in blue and white is that of joyful abandon; the unpolished celebrations of players, staff and fans unfamiliar with these moments. It’s at this point Dario Vidosic becomes noticeable.

The Brighton head coach is shaking hands with the Liverpool staff, watching the celebrations from an angle. He momentarily points up to the sky, a gesture to his father, Rado, once the club’s head of coaching for women and girls, who died of cancer in January, before striding calmly towards the embrace of the maelstrom. As far as visual motifs go, this one was pretty on the nose.