A second half goal rush from defending champions Lynn Avon United resulted in a resounding 10-0 semi-final win over Upper Hutt City in Auckland on Sunday and kept them on course for a ninth Women’s Knockout Cup title.

Building on a 2-0 halftime lead, Lynn-Avon ran riot in the second half to earn a place in the September 19 or 20 Knockout Cup final against Hamilton’s Claudelands Rovers, who edged Western FC 3-2 in Christchurch on Saturday in the other semi.

Football Fern Amber Hearn – recently returned from playing professionally in North America – lead the scoring with a hat-trick in seven second half minutes, while New Zealand team mate Katie Hoyle claimed a long-range double.

Earlier, a 14th minute deflected own goal broke the deadlock, and Ria Percival doubled the advantage after half an hour as a previously solid Upper Hutt defence began to come unstuck.

Caitlin Campbell and Liz Milne also chimed in after the break while Sarah Gregorius – the only one of Lynn Avon’s scorers not capped at senior level for New Zealand – completed the rout eight minutes from time.

They’ll defend their title against Claudelands Rovers, who became the first Waikato team in 14 years to make the final after Football Ferns striker Sarah McLaughlin claimed an 80th minute winner at English Park.

Western’s Sarah Clapham tapped in an Aimee Phillips cross top open the scoring but Claudelands replied just seven minutes later when a corner fell to Kate Loye on the edge of the penalty area.

Loye struck again five minutes after halftime but Rovers conceded a clumsy penalty for a foul on Western’s Georgia Goulding with 25 minutes left to play with Clapham converting the equalising spot kick.

As tension built, it was Western who finally cracked, when McLaughlin capitalised a Western defensive error to race clear and beat the keeper one-on-one for the decisive goal.

The final is scheduled for North Harbour Stadium on September 19 or 20 along with the Chatham Cup final.

Women’s Knockout Cup Semi-finals

Saturday

Western 2 (Sarah Clapham 13, 65-pen)

Claudelands Rovers 3 (Kate Loye 20, 50; Sarah McLaughlin 80)

English Park, Christchurch

Sunday

Lynn Avon 10 (own goal 14; Ria Percival 33; Katie Hoyle 51, 66; Caitlin Campbell 63; Amber Hearn 73, 74, 80; Liz Milne 77; Sarah Gregorius 82)

Upper Hutt City 0

Ken Maunder Park, Auckland

Final – September 19 or 20, North Harbour Stadium

Claudelands Rovers v Lynn Avon United

Story courtesy of NZF Media

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