A 99th-minute winner from Naomi Girma sent Chelsea through to the quarter-finals of the Women’s FA Cup as they saw off a stubborn Manchester United 2-1. In a competitive encounter at Kingsmeadow, Sonia Bompastor’s side needed extra time to keep their cup defence alive after Simi Awujo had cancelled out Sam Kerr’s opener in normal time.
This encounter felt like it came at a critical moment in Chelsea’s season after an uncharacteristic wobble in recent weeks had all but ended their hopes of defending their league title. Securing their third win in a row, however, will have been the perfect tonic to boost morale ahead of a month during which they will face the same opponents in the League Cup final before coming up against Arsenal in a mouthwatering Champions League quarter-final.
The Blues looked refreshed after having a week to prepare for this re-run of last year’s final. Bompastor made just one change to the side that had beaten Liverpool in the Women’s Super League last Sunday, with Lucy Bronze coming in for Sandy Baltimore.
United, in comparison, were involved in European football midweek with attention focused first on getting through a playoff encounter with Atlético Madrid. Spirits would have been high despite the quick turnaround after they had secured progression to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time but the repercussions of that fixture were evident.
Marc Skinner has talked about the need for his side to manage the emotions of competing on four fronts but they looked fatigued as he opted for consistency in his lineup. There was just one change as Ellen Wangerheim replaced Lea Schüller up front with Elisabeth Terland fit enough only for the bench after recovering from a knock.
They had plenty to thank their goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce for in the first half as she almost single-handedly kept the score level. After early chances from Keira Walsh and Erin Cuthbert were blocked, the United keeper produced a clawing save to keep out Alyssa Thompson’s looping effort. She then had to be alert to an Ellie Carpenter cross that was dipping under the bar before getting down quickly to divert a driven Cuthbert shot behind.
As the half drew to a close, Chelsea kept their foot on the gas but were denied by a brilliant recovery tackle from Maya Le Tissier. As Lauren James broke through, the United captain stretched every sinew to turn the shot over the bar.
United were more adventurous after the break as they played their way into the game. Melvine Malard saw her goalbound header blocked off the line before Jess Park unleashed a trademark 20-yard effort that beat Hannah Hampton but, agonisingly, not the woodwork.
The breakthrough finally came in the 78th minute when Kerr, on as a substitute just moments earlier, sent a low shot into the bottom corner. The Blues’ joy was short-lived, however, as the visitors fought back immediately when Awujo reacted quickest in the box to bundle home the equaliser.
As the game entered extra time, the Blues found another gear to claim the winner. A dangerous corner was headed on to the post by Buurman and Girma was there quickest to sweep in the rebound. It was enough to secure victory in an encounter that proved a tasty prelude to their meeting in the League Cup final after the international break.
