Chelsea vs West Ham, Conti Cup semi preview: final on the horizon

For Emma Hayes and the Chelsea Women, this Thursday concludes a run of four matches within a 15-day span. Rest from club action is around the corner, but first, there is a job to do. For the first time this season, the Blues visit Chigwell Construction Stadium to take on West Ham United for a place in the Conti Cup final on March 5. The balancing act for Hayes continues. Over the last two weeks, CFC has competed in three different competitions, and in the next few weeks, another one will be reintroduced.

Hayes has made it clear, no competition holds more importance than the other. With Manchester United and Arsenal dropping points in the Women’s Super League this past weekend, CFC can breathe a sigh of relief as it turns its eyes to the league cup. This matchup will be a rematch of the Conti Cup quarterfinal from last season at Victoria Road where Pernille Harder’s hat trick saw the Blues through to the next round. Despite the fact that the Irons have never defeated Chelsea in the past in any competition, their spirited defensive display against Arsenal at home this past weekend has provided them with some sort of confidence.

There will be no fear from Paul Konchesky and his team come Thursday night. After their shocking 3-nil defeat to Everton on the road, the Irons have strung together three consecutive clean sheets in all competitions. Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold has been in top form. Arnold has the most saves in the WSL so far this season with 44, saving nine total shots against Arsenal last time out. The Blues are going to have to be dialed in if they want to beat Arnold given her world-class form at the moment.

Despite Konchesky and the Irons beginning to form some sort of solidity in the back, goals have been a lingering issue. If Dagny Brynjarsdottir can’t find the back of the net, where is a West Ham goal going to come from? Three out of the Irons last five goals have come from Brynjarsdottir, and one of the five was an own goal against Wolves. If the Blues are going to begin to collect clean sheets, this is where is starts. Brynjarsdottir height is an issue, but given the lack of clean sheets as of late for CFC, the main focus must be keeping West Ham out of the back of the net.

In the two clubs’ meetings early on in the WSL campaign, the Blues were still trying to get their bearings. The heart and soul of the Irons, Brynjarsdottir punished CFC right off the bat. Helped on by the miscommunication of Sam Kerr, and Kadeisha Buchanan, Brynjarsdottir showed off her 5 foot 11 inch frame, netting a free header to put West Ham in front at Kingsmeadow. It took the Blues 37 minutes to respond, but when they did, there was no looking back. For the west Londoners, it was a much-needed victory before it headed back on the road for the first time since the defeat to Liverpool.

As far as the lineup goes, Hayes has kept a fairly consistent 4-2-3-1 with Zecira Musovic to have appeared to taken over the No. 1 role between the sticks with the confirmation of her new contract extension until 2025. For a game that is just four days from the last, stability is key.

Jessie Fleming has been rewarded with an increased role as the No. 10 while Jess Carter continues to show the coaching staff what they were missing from the first half of the season. Where is Magdalena Eriksson? That has to be the biggest question surrounding the Blues at this point in time. Will she get a run out against West Ham? Her experience in big games, and linkup abilities with Guro Reiten will no doubt help, but can she really bench a player who scored in the previous game. The answer has to be no.

A trip down memory lane last time out in the Conti Cup against West Ham:

The realization of how close the Blues are to taking back the Conti Cup crown has to be sinking in. Complacency kills in the sport of football. The job is not done in this competition until the final whistle blows on March 5. Hayes and her team know that. Both teams coming in on short rest could affect the start, but at the end of the day, this is a battle for a place in the final.

The Blues received the friendly draw in the Conti Cup, but their job is no different from Arsenal and Manchester City on the other side. It is going to be scrappy, and physical for 90 minutes. That is the way West Ham likes to play. So far, every match since returning from the winter break has been far from perfect, but this is a chance to put it all together before another international break ensues.