Goals from Sophie Ingle and Sam Kerr saw Women’s FA Cup holders Chelsea into the quarter-finals, beating a wasteful Arsenal 2-0 at Kingsmeadow.
The match pitted two of the Women’s Super League’s heavyweights against each other in an early round, also serving as a preview of next Sunday’s Conti Cup final between the two sides at Selhurst Park.
But Arsenal will need to sharpen their finishing if they are to lift their first silverware since 2019, having wasted chance after chance in south west London.
However, the tie showed once again just how potent Chelsea are, even if they are not playing their best. Sophie Ingle scored in the 21st minute via the left post, just after Stina Blackstenius had lifted the ball over the crossbar in one of three gilt-edged Gunners chance in the first half.
Arsenal dominated much of the second period too, but Sam Kerr – making her 100th Chelsea appearance – tapped home 11 minutes after the restart to send the reigning champions into the last eight.
Despite their best efforts, the Gunners were unable to find a reply, while Chelsea continue their march towards a third successive FA Cup trophy.
How Chelsea saw off wasteful Arsenal
The pendulum swung in both directions early on, but Arsenal saw the better chances fall their way.
A cross into the area from Caitlin Foord deflected off Blackstenius, causing a defensive mix-up between Ann-Katrin Berger and Magda Eriksson. The ball looked to be rolling into an open net, but Niamh Charles raced back to hack it off the line.
Soon after, Leah Williamson’s long ball was nodded on by Maanum, with Blackstenius muscling ahead of Eriksson to collect. However, she lifted her effort well over the crossbar.
Three minutes later, Chelsea were ahead. Lauren James drifted in from the right wing with no Arsenal pressure, before squaring the ball for Ingle at the top of the area. She then fired home via the left post to see the FA Cup holders ahead.
It was a frantic end to the half too as Arsenal saw two more huge chances pass them by. In the 38th minute, Blackstenius’ run was picked out by a long ball from Foord. She drove down the left of the area but her squared ball was just missed by Maanum’s outstretched foot.
After Manuela Zinsberger made an acrobatic stop to keep out Jelena Cankovic’s strike, the Gunners went close again. Katie McCabe’s strike was fumbled away by Berger, but the goalkeeper reacted well to then smother the ball away from the feet of the incoming Foord, who only needed to lift it over the goalkeeper.
Chelsea added their second against the run of play 11 minutes after the break. It was a delightful throughball from Cankovic that slotted Kerr through and she easily tapped past Zinsberger, who had committed herself too early.
Arsenal’s lack of luck was epitomised in the 66th minute. After a sensational run from Foord, spinning past Eve Perisset on the left, her cross deflected off Blackstenius and onto Eriksson. However, the Chelsea captain’s touch hit Berger in the face from close range before being cleared. Blackstenius too was flagged for offside.
The Gunners continued to press for goals as the half continued, but seemed to send everything at Berger as the goalkeeper helped guide Chelsea into the next round.
What’s next?
Chelsea’s next game is again at home to Arsenal, with this meeting coming in the Conti Cup on Sunday; kick-off 3pm. Emma Hayes’ side then host Brighton in the WSL on Wednesday March 8, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 7.30pm.
After their trip to Selhurst Park on Sunday, Arsenal host Liverpool in the WSL on Wednesday March 8; kick-off 7.15pm.
