Takeaways as Chelsea Women advance to Conti Cup semifinals

Fran Kirby lifts Chelsea after inclusion

In the 61′, the English international came onto the pitch for Jelena Cankovic following a solid outing herself with Cuthbert in the middle of the pitch. Whenever Kirby enters the conversation, it looks like everyone on the pitch changes their mindset. She has now had at least one goal involvement in five out of the last seven contests in all competitions.

James’ spacing on the flank and vision in the final third was brilliant, but none of it would have mattered without Kirby’s world-class finish with her right-foot, giving Tinja-Riikka Korpela no chance at keeping the ball out of the net. She had the hockey assist in Kerr’s second goal of the night, and nearly netted the fourth, missing the target just barely after beating the goalkeeper off the dribble.

Cuthbert controls a midfield like nobody else in the WSL, and Guro Reiten has the ability to line up an assist with the best, but nobody has the ability to come off the bench and make an impact like Kirby does. The English international continues to show why she is one of the best finishers on the team, and a player that does not necessarily start to make a difference.