Sam Mewis Scores Winner, Rose Lavelle Debuts for Man City in Women's FA Cup Semifinals

The U.S. midfielder scored her first goal for the club in a big spot, while Rose Lavelle debuted for the club in the win.

Manchester City Women's American duo is starting to make an impact.

Sam Mewis scored what wound up being the game-winner, while Rose Lavelle played her first minutes for the club in a 2-1 triumph over Arsenal in the Women's FA Cup semifinals on Thursday. Man City will play Everton, a 3-0 semifinal winner over Birmingham City, in the Nov. 1 final at Wembley Stadium. These matches mark the completion of the 2019-20 tournament, which had been suspended as a result of the pandemic. The 2020-2021 competition is currently in the qualifying-round stages.

For Man City to reach the final, Mewis broke a 1-1 deadlock at the 40-minute mark, pouncing on a loose ball in the Arsenal box to complete a sequence that she started. 

#USWNT's Sam Mewis is on the board for Man City Women! A go-ahead goal in the Women's FA Cup semifinals vs. Arsenal, no less

(via @VitalityWFACup) pic.twitter.com/s3BKKhSz38

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) October 1, 2020

Mewis's finish followed a superb goal by Jordan Nobbs, which had brought Arsenal level after Steph Houghton's opener on an excellent free kick.

She's done it AGAIN!@JordanNobbs8 with another worldie 🚀#WomensFACup #MCIARS pic.twitter.com/BtgXXb4c14

— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) October 1, 2020

GOAL! 🔥@stephhoughton2 with a trademark free-kick™#WomensFACup #MCIARS pic.twitter.com/0QnAru9Kg8

— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) October 1, 2020

Lavelle then entered for Ellen White in the 65th minute, making her first appearance after, like Mewis, leaving NWSL for what is expected to be a short-term stint in England. Lavelle's NWSL rights were traded to OL Reign from the Washington Spirit before her move to Manchester, while Mewis's are retained by the North Carolina Courage. They're among a number of NWSL players who are temporarily playing overseas, including fellow U.S. teammates Christen Press and Tobin Heath (Manchester United), Alex Morgan (Tottenham) and Emily Sonnett (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC).

🔛 @roselavelle makes her debut for @ManCityWomen 😍#WomensFACup #MCIARS pic.twitter.com/pumz12odSA

— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) October 1, 2020

Both Mewis and Lavelle will be looking to match Carli Lloyd's 2017 achievement, when she won the competition while playing for Man City. She scored in the final vs. Birmingham, the third goal in a 4-1 rout. Man City also won the 2019 final, beating West Ham, 3-0.