Manchester United will travel to second tier club Sunderland in the fourth round of this season’s Vitality Women’s FA Cup.
The Red Devils were drawn away to Blackburn Rovers or Sunderland in the fourth round but Marc Skinner’s side had to wait for the conclusion of the two clubs’ third round tie to learn of their first opponents in this season’s competition.
Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland went head-to-head in the third round at The Sir Tom Finney Stadium this afternoon. A tight encounter was edged by the visitors who ran out 1-0 winners.
Sunderland were awarded a penalty kick midway through the first half in Bamber Bridge but Neve Herron was unable to take advantage. Herron made amends for her penalty miss in the second half when she fired home the game’s only goal just after the hour mark to set up a fourth round tie against Barclays Women’s Super League heavyweights Manchester United.
The Lady Black Cats’ meeting with Manchester United will be the first in the elite game. As Manchester United entered the elite game in 2018, Sunderland were being relegated into the third tier, therefore there have been no real opportunities for the two sides to meet until now. Melanie Reay’s Sunderland side have only been back in the elite game for 18 months.
The Vitality Women’s FA Cup fourth round tie between Sunderland and Manchester United is scheduled to take place on Sunday 29 January 2023.
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