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

2. Magdelena Eriksson shines once again in the midlands

The defense has to be the star of the show from Sunday afternoon. Coming off of two disappointing results with her national team, the Swedish international Magdalena Eriksson pieced together yet another world-class display in defense. Without the best two defenders on the Hayes’ side, the west London outfit needs players like Eriksson to step up in more ways than they have previously.

The 29-year-old left central defender was everywhere, timing tackles perfectly, and coming up with vital blocks as Villa mounted pressure down the stretch. Her performances have been heavily criticized throughout this last season under contract with the club, but since Bright has moved out of the lineup, the Swede has been massive for a team that needs that kind of defensive solidity to carve out results. In the 35′, Kirsty Hanson’s cross was heading toward the feet of Rachel Daly. Eriksson put her body right in front of Daly, blocking a shot that was bound for the back of the net if not for the intervention of the Swede. Those are the kinds of plays Eriksson was making all night.

While there was numerous shouts for player of the match including Eriksson’s partner out wide in defense, Carter, the Swedish central defender earned the honors. She put herself in the right position nearly every time, cutting out crosses and frustrating the Villa frontline over and over again. As a team with over 30 goals in the domestic league, the frontline has found a way through the opposition’s defense in eight straight contest before encountering the Blues two weeks ago. Eriksson has been critical in those two clean sheets, rewriting her narrative in the final few months of what could be her final run in west London.