Maria Farrugia scores Durham’s winning penalty in League Cup win over Sheffield United

Maria Farrugia proved Durham Women’s hero on Sunday when she netted the winning penalty to hand her club a victory over Sheffield United in the FA Women’s League Cup.

Durham and Sheffield United, who both play in the FA Women’s Championship, shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw in regular time before Farrugia’s side claimed victory after a penalty shoot-out.

The women’s League Cup sees teams gaining extra points if they win after a penalty shoot-out during the group stage phase.

Farrugia’s Durham were drawn against three Women’s Super League teams besides Sheffield United – Aston Villa, Everton and Manchester United.

They host Manchester United on October 26 before facing Aston Villa in November and Everton in December.

In the other group game, Aston Villa defeated Manchester United 4-3 after penalties.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Emma Ciantar Piccinino had a memorable game with London Seaward Reserves as they defeated Hashtag United 5-3 in the Reserve South and Central Division.

The former Malta U-19’s international scored her club’s first goal before recording an assist in the second as well.

In Italy, youngster Maya Lucia was a second-half substitute for Genoa Women as she made her third appearance for the Serie B side. Genoa fell to a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of league favourites Brescia.