Aggie Beever-Jones scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to keep Chelsea’s quadruple hopes alive as they beat Liverpool at Kingsmeadow to book their place in the Women’s FA Cup final.
Beever-Jones, who scored her first England goal in the international break, headed past Rachael Laws in the 94th minute to avoid sending the game into extra time.
Sonia Bompastor’s Chelsea side had dominated the early stages but suffered a scare when Olivia Smith found the bottom corner from Marie Hobinger’s impressive ball through the middle to give Liverpool the lead.
Liverpool, aiming for a first FA Cup final since 1996, grew into the game and could have doubled their lead through Hobinger, but Chelsea’s persistence paid off as Erin Cuthbert’s first-time finish went in off a post.
The Blues started the second half as they ended the first and peppered Laws’ goal, but could not find a breakthrough until Beever-Jones converted from Sandy Baltimore’s cross.
Having already won the Women’s League Cup, Chelsea sit six points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League (WSL) and face Barcelona next in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
They suffered an FA Cup semi-final defeat last season but return to Wembley on 18 May and face Manchester City or Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
For Liverpool, their full attention now turns to their four remaining WSL games.
Chelsea have won all but four games this season, with three of those coming in March.
After draws against Brighton and West Ham in the WSL and a Champions League quarter-final first leg defeat by City, Bompastor said she wanted to see the best version of her players on their return from the international break.
The Blues were far from their brilliant best but, like so many times this season, dug deep to get the job done when it mattered.
France international Baltimore was their bright spark and creative outlet and enjoyed a fascinating tactical battle with Liverpool captain Taylor Hinds down the left hand side.
It was Baltimore’s tricky footwork in the six-yard box that kept the ball alive before Cuthbert lobbed Laws for Chelsea’s first goal, and the France defender kept her composure to put the ball on a plate for Beever-Jones to head in the decisive winner.
With only eight days to prepare for the trip to Barcelona, Chelsea desperately wanted to avoid extra time, and Beever-Jones made amends for her earlier missed chances to deliver the perfect outcome for Bompastor’s quadruple-chasing Blues.
Heartbreak for Liverpool
When Hobinger carved open the Chelsea defence to unleash Smith for Liverpool’s opener, the Reds looked on course to end their 29-year wait for an FA Cup final.
They grew in confidence on the ball and should have doubled their lead when Hobinger’s fizzing effort was saved by Hannah Hampton.
But the Reds saw little of the ball after the break and were largely camped inside their own half.
Hinds almost won it in stoppage time when she hit the woodwork from a tight angle, but a smash-and-grab victory was not to be before the Reds conceded the late sucker punch.
Under interim boss Amber Whiteley, Liverpool have now won three and lost three and with four WSL games to play, they sit sixth in the division and will look to leapfrog fifth-placed Brighton in their final four games.
It is now mathematically impossible for Liverpool to match last season’s impressive fourth-placed WSL finish.
“I fully believe we are moving in the right direction and we are making good progress,” Whiteley said.
“We can take so much from that performance.
“I don’t think players will take much lifting. We are six games in under my leadership and have done a pretty good job so far.”–BBC
