Cooper free-kick earns cup semi-final spot
AFC Wimbledon Ladies finally had something to cheer about on Sunday when they earned a spot in the semi-final of the Surrey Women’s Cup in thrilling style.
Though the Dons have yet to win a league game this season, they marched into the last four with an extra-time goal from captain Louise Cooper (pictured) earning a 3-2 win against South Park.
Rose Maskell had earlier opened the scoring with an emphatic finish after a corner from Cooper had only been half cleared by South Park.
South Park snatched the lead after the Dons failed to clear a corner themselves and there was a further blow for Wimbledon when Shaz Blomeley had to go off injured. It was 1-1 shortly after the break though and worse was to follow for the Dons.
Wimbledon showed fighting spirit to battle back though and they forced the match into extra-time when Cooper’s 25-yard drive just about found its way into the net after a mistake from the South Park goalkeeper.
The Dons had the momentum heading into extra-time and Cooper conjured up the winner in style with a long-range free-kick that soared high into the net. The reward for Wimbledon is a semi-final tie against Carshalton Athletic and there could yet be a silver lining to a testing season for the Dons.