A late Aggie Beever-Jones winner ensured that Chelsea dispatched of a spirited Liverpool side in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup semi final on Saturday lunch time. Chelsea had welcomed Liverpool to Kingsmeadow with both sides knowing that a win would punch their ticket to Wembley.
Liverpool had never won the cup and last reached this stage of the competition in the 2016-2017 season while their opponents, Chelsea have been present in all but one of the semi finals in the competition since that season almost 10 years ago.
Chelsea had feared the worst prior to Sonia Bompastor’s pre match press conference on Friday afternoon but the news post international break was for the most part positive. While the match came too soon for players like Sam Kerr, Naomi Girma, Maelys Mpomé and Lauren James but Bompastor confirmed that Guro Reiten, Maika Hamano and Mayra Ramirez would be available.
For the Blues, Reiten and Hamano made the bench while Ramirez was fit enough to start. Chelsea made six changes from the team that beat West Ham prior to the international break with Lucy Bronze, Sandy Baltimore, Keira Walsh, Weike Kaptein, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Ramirez restored to the starting line up.
Liverpool were holding out on the fitness of star player Olivia Smith who missed out on representing Canada over the international break. The good news for Liverpool was that Smith was fit to start. The great esterday Liverpool received a major set back with the news that young defender Zara Shaw has suffered an ACL injury while with the England under 19s. Liverpool were also without Ceri Holland after she picked up an injury on international duty.
The Line ups:
CHE: Hampton, Bronze, Bright, Björn, Baltimore, Walsh, Kaptein, Cuthbert, Kaneryd, Ramirez, Beever-Jones
LIV: Laws, Evans, Fisk, Bonner, Hinds, Höbinger, Nagano, Kerr, Kiernan, Smith, Kapocs
The Action:
In the early exchanges Chelsea were pushing Liverpool, a flurry of corners concluded with a beautifully whipped in ball from Sandy Baltimore. The cross forced Rachel Laws into a save and subsequent efforts from Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze lacked the necessary conviction to find the net.
Despite Chelsea’s early pressure it was a rapid breakaway from Liverpool in their first attack in earnest of the match that broke the deadlock. Olivia Smith, played in behind by Marie Höbinger, bore down on goal and despite the best efforts of Millie Bright sliding in Smith fired the ball into the bottom corner with unerring accuracy. Liverpool had the taken the lead right in front of the jubilant away end and against the run of play.
Liverpool were beginning to take the initiative on the day as not long after taking the lead, Marie Höbinger flashed her volley over when unmarked at the near post before she stung the palms of Hampton shortly after. The first 30 minutes had passed by in an instant, this was a frantic encounter that was already shaping up to be classic FA Cup tie. Chelsea appeared shell shocked by the concession of the opener and struggled to adapt in the first half.
But in typical Chelsea style the Blues would get on level terms with moments remaining in the half. After great running from Baltimore on the right side of the pitch Baltimore’s cross was blocked. That resulted in a full contact challenge from Mayra Ramirez on Gemma Evans, as the Colombian directed the ball to Erin Cuthbert in the box, who, on the volley shot at goal. Rachel Laws got a fingertip to it but the ball still bounced in off the post ensuring the scores were level before half time.
Within the first few minutes of the second half Millie Bright came flying at a ball played to the feet of Smith, winning the ball while also taking Smith out, an early second half note of intention. Chelsea had started the second half in threatening fashion, and wonderful work from Keira Walsh winning the ball in midfield saw her play a wonderful ball through to Aggie Beever-Jones. Beever-Jones took aim a magnificent intervention from Gemma Bonner denied the Blues the lead.
Chelsea were pushing to take the lead and just appeared to be missing the touch of composure in front of goal that could give them the lead. Liverpool continued to threaten on the break with Smith at one stage dribbling from box to box with the ball at her feet before the final ball let her down. With 20 minutes to play Beever-Jones took the ball on the half volley from inside the Liverpool box only for Laws to make a smart stop. Beever-Jones was in the mood, and shortly after she received the ball to feet, before Cruyff turning inside the box to open up space but her final product let her down, flashing her effort over the bar.
Walsh and Cuthbert fired over from outside the box as Chelsea pushed to secure victory before extra time became a necessity. With only two minutes remaining Liverpool came within inches of a smash and grab for a place at Wembley. Taylor Hinds received the ball on the left side before beating Weike Kaptein far too easily, she clipped a ball into the box, it drifted over Hampton and off the inside of the Chelsea crossbar and out.
Chelsea and Beever-Jones would finally get the goal their second half play warranted in the dying minutes. Bright play from Baltimore down the wing found the French woman space, she clipped the ball into the box where Beever-Jones directed goal wards and past the helpless Laws. Chelsea had punched their ticket to Wembley.
Chelsea Player Ratings
Hannah Hampton – 7/10 – The Lionesses number one made a smart save after Chelsea went behind to deny Hobinger when momentum had swung in Liverpool’s direction in the first half.
Lucy Bronze – 7/10 – The right back was one of the cooler heads in the Chelsea team and helped manage the tempo in difficult moments for her side.
Nathalie Björn – 7/10 – Liverpool had targeted the opposite side of the defence, leaving Björn with little to do in both halves.
Millie Bright – 6/10 – After a month of playing almost every minute for club and country the last thing a centre back wants to see is Olivia Smith running directly at them but that was Bright’s reality here. Left exposed by Baltimore’s freedom to attack high up the pitch in the early stages Smith had the better of things. Bright improved as the match wore on.
Sandy Baltimore – 7/10 – Early set piece delivery was impressive. Liverpool exploited her desire to push high up the pitch and that cost Chelsea the first goal, but that is as much to do with tactics as it was Baltimore not tracking back. Adapted to the challenge well and was brilliant in attack.
Keira Walsh – 7/10 – Was able to get her foot on the ball and influence play far more in the second half, almost set Beever-Jones clean through with an impeccable bit of midfield play.
Weike Kaptein – 6/10 – The Dutch midfielder was uncertain in front of goal but helped her side control the match in the second half.
Erin Cuthbert – 7/10 – Another dogged performance from the Scot, took her goal well.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – 6/10 – Made some bright early direct running and had an enjoyable battle against Hinds. Had a couple of shots on goal but her finishing remains an issue.
Mayra Ramirez – 6/10 – Ramirez’s presence up front for Chelsea is always felt, Liverpool may feel hard done by that her challenge prior to the goal went unpunished but Ramirez will make no apologies for her style.
Aggie Beever Jones – 8/10 – A difficult game to shine in given Liverpool’s defensive qualities. Beever-Jones had opportunities but perhaps initially was not quick enough to get her shots away on goal, Liverpool’s last ditch defending was all too often unpunished. But persevering was key and she did, Beever-Jones scored in the dying seconds to win the match. Exhibited lightning quick feet on occasion, she kept going and linked up the play well from the front.
SUBS:
Sjoeke Nüsken – (64′ for Mayra Ramirez)
Cat Macario – (90′ for Aggie Beever-Jones)
Guro Reiten – (90′ for Wieke Kaptein)
Liverpool Player Ratings
Rachel Laws – 7/10 – Perhaps would have liked to have done better for Chelsea’s first goal. Saved brilliantly from Beever-Jones at a vital moment in the second half.
Gemma Evans – 8/10 – Made a vital intervention to stop Ramirez running through on goal right after her side had taken the lead.
Grace Fisk – 8/10 – A towering defensive performance from Bonner who is an incredible leader.
Gemma Bonner – 8/10 – Made an incredible tackle after Keira Walsh had unlocked the defence to try and set Beever-Jones clean through.
Taylor Hinds – 7/10 – Managed the threat of Kaneryd extremely well, her know how and experience in battles like that shone through. Almost won the match for Liverpool with a cross come shot.
Fuka Nagano – 6/10 – Struggled to impact the play in her side’s favour.
Sam Kerr – 7/10 – Made a number of confident touches under pressure in tight spaces in and around the Liverpool box.
Marie Höbinger – 7/10 – The Austrian was a constant threat for Liverpool in the middle of the park she had several efforts that gave Hampton something to think about. Assisted Olivia Smith’s opener with a lovely ball over the top.
Olivia Smith – 9/10 – So often Smith was first to 50/50 balls, she exploited the space left by Baltimore in unforgiving fashion and took her goal exceptionally well. Smith also tracked back in support of her defence impressively. Was taken off in the 88th minute after another magnificent showing.
Leanne Kiernan – 7/10 – A nuisance for the Chelsea defence to deal with she tirelessly chased down every ball. Exhibited some excellent hold up play.
Cornelia Kapocs – 6/10 – The winger had a quiet afternoon and did little to effect the outcome of the match.
SUBS:
Sophie Roman Haug (60′ for Leanne Kiernan)
Jasmine Matthews (88′ for Olivia Smith)
Mia Enderby (90′ for Cornelia Kapocs)
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Olivia Smith
The Adobe Women’s FA Cup player of the round last round and she did not deserve to be on the losing team this time. She was magnificent at both ends of the pitch.
