Chelsea Women: 3 takeaways from narrow FA Cup semifinal win over Villa

It was not as straightforward as their WSL fixture a few weeks ago, but behind the sensational link-up play of Guro Reiten and Sam Kerr, Chelsea Women are through to the FA Cup final.

At this stage of the FA Cup, it could not have happened any other way. Coming off an international break that added yet another player to the injured list, Chelsea was prepared to head back to Aston Villa with a much larger hill to climb to get the result.

Like this team has all season with Emma Hayes at the helm, the Blues found a way to dig deep when it mattered the most to edge Carla Ward’s side by a goal to advance to the FA Cup final for the third consecutive campaign.

Being the hunted is not as simple nearly every domestic competition has to put an extensive amount of weight on the shoulders of the CFC players. Hayes’ side has been able to brush off all the excuses no matter the opponent and continue to push for as much silverware as possible.

Guro Reiten’s teasing left-footed cross found the head of Sam Kerr who netted her third goal in as many matches against Aston Villa. The Blues attack was not as clinical as it was a few weeks prior in the Women’s Super League, but when they needed it the most, the world’s most in-form striker finished the job.

On the defensive end, the squad was without Millie Bright, or Kadeisha Buchanan. Maren Mjelde and Magdalena Eriksson filled the voids effortlessly, constantly getting in the way of a Villa attack that had a purpose to them throughout periods of the second 45 minutes. Jess Carter and Eve Perisset covered the wings relatively well with the home side hitting the target on just four of their 18 shot attempts.

The triumph sets up a blockbuster final at Wembley on May 14 with the Blues taking on a Manchester United. It will be United’s first appearance in any major trophy final in the club’s history. Marc Skinner and his team while inexperienced know that they have the tools to take down a west London side who may still be balancing more than one competition at that point in the campaign.

Both teams experienced nervy semifinals to earn a spot in north west London in a month’s time. Skinner’s side needed an 89′ winner by former Tottenham striker Rachel Williams to oust Brighton and Hove Albion out of the competition despite a valiant effort.

Heading into the final stretch of the season, this is where a team like the Blues kick it to another level. Beating an opponent three times in a single season is a tough ask. Hayes’ side weathered the storm at times, doing just enough in a tournament where the result means far more than the display on the pitch. Here are three takeaways from a well-deserved away victory under less than ideal circumstances for the west London outfit.

3 takeaways from Chelsea Women’s another successful trip to Bescot Stadium.