Unlike last weekend at Kingsmeadow, the match between Liverpool and the Blues went on as planned. Captained by the Australian striker, Sam Kerr for the third game in a row, the Chelsea Women were able to hold on against Matt Beard’s side as the Blues seek to capture its third consecutive FA Cup.
It may have been a stressful last five minutes following Gemma Bonner’s goal to bring the deficit to one, but CFC was able to grind out a win against the only team that has managed to defeat it in any competition this season.
Niamh Charles took advantage of the opportunity as the starting right back with Eve Perisset out with two pinpoint assists into the box that were finished with precision by Kerr. It is now the fourth game in a row that Kerr has been able to find the back of the net, and the second straight instance in which she netted two or more in 90 minutes. Liverpool may have scored two goals, but one of them was a cracker from outside of the box by Ceri Holland.
A successful day at the office. 💼 pic.twitter.com/hmztLmktAH
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) January 29, 2023
CFC’s inability to clear the ball around the goal mouth in the 85’ cost another goal, but in the FA Cup, the performance matters much less compared to the result. Despite the Red’s place in the WSL table and their latest results, Beard has now given his former club the best he had twice. Liverpool are only the second club so far this season to score two or more against Hayes’ side, and the Reds have managed it twice.
From Melanie Leupolz’s return to the pitch to Jessie Fleming’s masterclass in the midfield, Sunday afternoon at Kingsmeadow was nothing but a success. Here are the takeaways from a vital victory in CFC’s first full match on its home turf since the turn of the new calendar year: