Coming off the back of the win over Manchester United in the WSL, and on the heels of Lyon in the Champions League, the Chelsea Women cruised past Reading and into the semifinals of the FA Cup.
Rotation was the name of the game for CFCW on the road in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. Without Sam Kerr in the starting XI for the first time since the end of October, the Blues still managed to cause the Reading backline all sort of issues. Seeing Emma Hayes’ side net three goals without Kerr coming into the match at all is a positive sign as the season heads into the final few months.
Not only did the side have the opportunity to provide Kerr, and Lauren James with an entire day of rest, but four academy players saw the senior pitch, including three who stepped foot on it for the first time on Sunday afternoon. The Royals found the target just twice as the Blues back three anchored by the Swedish shot-stopper Zecira Musovic cleaned things up for the most part. As Hayes said post game, “we made changes, and every adapted”. That is a mark of a special team. Niamh Charles has played in the backline for the most of the season, but was given a role up front along with a red-hot Guro Reiten in which caused Kelly Chambers’ side loads of issues.
Even with six changes from the game last weekend, Emma Hayes’ Chelsea managed to piece together a result to propel them to the FA Cup semifinals
Russian winger Alsu Abdullina continued on her assist tear this season. In just 168 minutes on the pitch in all competitions this season, Abdullina has set up three goals. Even though she may be more of use to Hayes’ side out on loan, she is making the most of her opportunities with the first team. Without a doubt, the story of the game was the Norwegian sensational Reiten.
The 28-year-old left winger was involved in every goal on Sunday afternoon, easily winning the Player of the Match award. Her deliver to Jess Carter was exquisite while he determination to win the penalty helped but Hayes’ side out of reach of a potential comeback by the Royals on their home ground.
With her two other running mates up top missing, the Norwegian demonstrated her ability to still make an impact like she has all season. It was a game that highlights why this team is one of the best in Europe. No matter the lineup, or opposition, the task will always be the same for a team that has its eyes set on the remaining three major trophies.
3 takeaways from Chelsea’s second consecutive two-goal FA Cup win
Blues find a way to win without recognized striker
It was not the most traditional attacking formation for Hayes’ side on Sunday afternoon at Madejski Stadium. With Charles, and Reiten leading the line for the most part, the Blues accumulated the most shots on target through 90 minutes since the 7-0 win over West Ham in the Conti Cup semifinal. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Maren Mjelde produced standout moments in their roles in the midfield, working hard on both sides of the ball to create chances on net. A lot of the problems by the Royals were self-inflicting, but credit to the west London side for finishing off the mistake.
Jess Carter continued her tear in front of the net, netting her third goal within six weeks. Even though it was Reading, the goal scoring presence is not only coming from Kerr and James. Players like Abdullina and Reiten do not typically play together, but the two adapted to convert the match-sealing goal just six minutes after the action resumed for the second 45 minutes.
Kerr will provide the threat up top for the majority of the matches going forward. To see Hayes’ team respond to the shake up on the bench, and in the starting lineup up front is a massive statement. Winning trophies takes an entire team. The Blues showed that in bunches to advance to the FA Cup semifinals.
Academy players getting a chance at the top-flight level
When Hayes released the lineup just an hour before kickoff, Blues fans rejoiced at the fact that they may have the chance to see four bright young stars. After netting a hat-trick with the academy during the mid-week, Aimee Claypole played in her second senior match in the month of March.
On top of the young standout striker coming in for Reiten in the second half, Hayes turned to three other academy players late in the match with the game in hand. 18-year-old Reanna Blades, Cerys Brown and Ashanti Akpan all came on to finish the match, and earn their first competitive debuts at the senior level for the west Londoners.
While none of them saw much significant game time, it is a confidence boost for the three of them as they seek to make their make in senior football in the near future. Having made a massive impact in the Southern Division at the academy level, this was a reward for all their hard work so far this season. Claypole, Brown, and Akpan have combined to start in every match this season which Blades came off the bench twice. For players like Katie Dungate, these players receiving time at this point in their career bodes well for them going forward. Sure, it was not the usual substitutions by Hayes, but it was hard not to smile as four academy stars stepped foot on a senior pitch in the same game.
Guro Reiten is a top-five player in the WSL right now
As the season progresses, the Norwegian left winger Guro Reiten just keeps getting better. Her left foot is pure magic. For some reason, even with the way she is producing goals this season, many tend to overlook her among the quality that is present around the continent of Europe.
Reiten now has an astounding 15 assists in all competitions for the west London side during this 2022/23 campaign. Combined with her work rate with the goal-scoring production when she feels like it make her arguably the most versatile player in the WSL right now. With the tap-in goal in the second half, Reiten now has six goals in all competitions.
No player in the English women’s top-flight puts the ball on a platter quite like the Norwegian sensation does at the moment. She was an emerging star last season, but during this campaign, she is a superstar. Getting Reiten to sign an extension through 2025 was one of the most essential, and possibly overlooked moves by this club since the month of August. It is not a stretch to say Reiten is a top-five, and possibly even a top-three player in the WSL right now given the form she has been in consistently all season. The way she impacts matches not only with her passing of is simply extraordinary to watch.