In the bright sun at Kingsmeadow on Saturday, Chelsea edged Liverpool with a score of 2-1, after a fiercely competitive match showcasing two very different styles of play.
From the start, Liverpool demonstrated exactly how they made it to semifinals with no goals against, showing up with a disciplined defense that was not afraid to be scrappy, and enough unexpected, highly threatening drives to make the Chelsea faithful extremely nervous.
Despite early pressure from Chelsea, the periodic attacks from Liverpool paid off. Liverpool made use of the power and speed available on their right side to score around the 21st minute, when an excellent weighted pass from Marie Höbinger set Olivia Smith up for an unerring shot across the face of the goal and into the far corner of the net. A second effort by the Reds soon after required a determined and really admirable save from Hampton.
From that point on, the first half was a back-and-forth tussle, as a generally dominant Chelsea tried to find a way to exert their usual pressure more successfully. One factor limiting their ability to send balls in and convert was the tremendous threat posed by Liverpool’s Smith.
Smith’s sometimes terrifying combination of speed and ability meant that both Millie Bright’s and Sandy Baltimore’s movements were restricted. In particular, Baltimore could contain Smith, but initially, only by sacrificing her drives up the side, in order to stay in a more defensive position.
It’s notable, then, that when Baltimore was freed to take a role in the attack, she was critical in Chelsea’s team goal at the end of the first half.After several efforts over the closing minutes of the half, none of them particularly dangerous or on target, Baltimore completed a run on the far side of the Liverpool goal and sent the ball in.
That initial attempt was blocked by the swarm of red-shirted Liverpool defenders, but Ramirez was able to control the ball and recycle it toward Erin Cuthbert, who reacted immediately by hooking it in over the heads of Liverpool. The ball hit the upright with just enough power and spin to curl inside the goal and roll to the back of the net. Fans of the Blues exploded and the team seemed energized, as for the few remaining stoppage minutes of the half, Chelsea showed renewed energy and drive.
When they returned after the half, the majority of the play was in Liverpool’s half, as Chelsea continued to press. As the half progressed, the departure of Ramirez and entrance of Nüsken seemed to turn up the focus a little further for a short while. The statistics for the match showed this dominance, particularly the sixteen Chelsea corners to Liverpool’s two.
But Liverpool showed they weren’t content to let Chelsea just walk off the pitch with this one, producing a stunning attempt at the 89th minute, when Taylor Hinds sent a soaring ball toward the goal. It was saved by what appeared to be the combination of a leap from Hampton, and the crossbar, allowing Chelsea to heave a huge sigh of relief.
As the game crept toward overtime, Chelsea renewed their attack — as the commentator said, “This is Chelsea time” — with a fusillade of attacks and corners, culminating in a fantastic headed goal from Aggie Beever-Jones in the dying seconds of the 94th minute.
ABJ had tried and missed a few times already in the game, with visible frustration, and she appeared jubilant to have scored this critical point just moments before she was due to be subbed out.Soon after, the whistle blew, sending a delighted Chelsea on to the final and Liverpool home — but with their heads held high for their admirable work on Kingsmeadow’s turf.
A few things stood out in this game. For Liverpool, a neutral would find much to admire in the team’s commitment to defense, which made them quite difficult to overcome. Team captain Taylor Hinds, as always, showed intelligent, full-body commitment to protecting her side’s interests. It’s also impossible to ignore the valuable, alarming intensity Olivia Smith brings to the WSL.
For Chelsea, the intrepidity and usefulness of Erin Cuthbert runs like a musical theme through this as through many a Chelsea match. Sandy Baltimore’s persistent, top-notch work was another highlight, contributing to both the initial goal and particularly to the game-winning goal.
She may be this season’s most meaningful import from France after Sonia Bompastor herself. And the tireless efforts of Rytting Kaneryd, Ramirez, and particularly Beever-Jones, in applying ceaseless pressure, typified why Chelsea is so difficult to overcome, even when they are not firing on all cylinders.
Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal will be a Manchester derby and determine whether Chelsea will travel to Wembley to yet again face Manchester City, or whether they will have a chance to redeem themselves against the Manchester United side that vanquished them in the semifinals last year.