Chelsea survived a second-half Liverpool fightback as a Sam Kerr hat-trick noticed the Blues into the FA Cup fifth spherical with a 3-2 victory at Kingsmeadow on Sunday.
Chelsea had regarded in cruise management after deservedly main on the break by Kerr, and the Australian striker doubled the hosts’ benefit seven minutes after the restart. But a much-improved Liverpool halved the deficit by a shocking Ceri Holland effort, earlier than Kerr accomplished her hat-trick to seemingly wrap up the victory.
Gemma Bonner scrambled residence from a nook with 5 minutes left on the clock to arrange an thrilling end, however the Blues withstood the late strain to edge into the fifth spherical.
Chelsea have been a lot the dominant aspect within the opening 45, as Liverpool struggled to progress out of their very own half. Lauren James examined Rachael Laws within the early exchanges, reducing inside and firing straight on the Liverpool goalkeeper.
Jessie Fleming flicked an Erin Cuthbert ball vast and Niamh Charles narrowly headed the incorrect aspect of the publish from a nook because the Blues pushed for the opener.
The breakthrough deservedly got here simply after the half hour mark, Charles digging out a cross from the byline and Kerr sending a sweetly-struck volley previous Laws.
Having been comfortably second greatest within the first half, Liverpool started the second half within the ascendancy, having fun with a uncommon spell of possession within the Chelsea half. However, any momentum was quickly stunted as Chelsea doubled their benefit seven minutes after the restart.
Holland was caught in possession by Fleming deep within the Chelsea half, Fran Kirby picked up the free ball and fed James. The Blues ahead well allowed the ball to run by to Kerr, who ending coolly.
The purpose may have simply killed Liverpool off, however the Reds got here once more and halved the deficit shortly after the hour mark. Missy Bo Kearns spun Kirby and regarded to the sting of the field for Holland, who fantastically arrowed the ball previous a sea of our bodies and into the underside nook.
Liverpool pushed for an equaliser, and have been unlucky to not be awarded a spot kick when the ball appeared to strike the outstretched arm of Sophie Ingle after Chelsea did not clear, however their protests have been waved away.
Laws stored the Reds within the sport after Kerr latched onto a weak again move and tried to around the Liverpool keeper, however she managed to tip the Chelsea striker’s effort vast.
Kerr wasn’t to be denied a hat-trick, and minutes later she restored her aspect’s two-goal benefit, leaping unmarked to move Charles’ again publish supply into the online.
But once more the Reds fought again, substitute Bonner bundling residence from a nook with 4 minutes remaining to arrange a grandstand end.
Zecira Musovic tipped a stinging Mel Lawley effort over the bar in stoppage time because the Blues held on to e book their place within the fifth spherical draw.
GK: Zecira Musovic – 6/10 – Couldn’t do an incredible deal about both Liverpool purpose. Tipped a stoppage time Lawley effort over the bar.
RB: Niamh Charles – 8/10 – Headed simply vast from a nook within the first half, and teed up Kerr for Chelsea’s opener with a burst to the byline and dinked cross. Went for a similar ball as Bright within the build-up to Liverpool’s first, leaving Lawley unmarked. Atoned for the error with one other help, selecting out Kerr on the again publish.
CB: Millie Bright – 6/10 – Kept Stengel effectively marshalled along with her physicality, however a mix-up between her and Charles led to Liverpool’s purpose.
CB: Kadeisha Buchanan – 7/10 – Blazed over from a nook early within the first half. Kick-started the transfer from which Chelsea opened the scoring with a probing move into midfield. Rarely troubled defensively, changed on the break.
LB: Jess Carter – 6/10 – Made an vital intervention to stop a doubtlessly harmful Liverpool counter-attack within the first half. Rarely examined defensively, tidy in possession.
CM: Erin Cuthbert – 7/10 – Found Fleming with a pinpoint first half cross, from which Chelsea virtually opened the scoring. Typically energetic and tenacious.
CM: Jessie Fleming – 8/10 – Flicked an effort narrowly vast within the first half, and was rewarded for her relentless harrying as she dispossessed Holland within the build-up to Chelsea’s second. Full of power, broke up play very well.
CM: Fran Kirby – 7/10 – Picked out Kerr for Chelsea’s second and linked play well all through. Beaten by Kearns within the build-up to Liverpool’s first purpose.
RW: Lauren James – 7/10 – Cleverly fed Charles within the build-up to Chelsea’s opener, and well allowed the ball to run by to Kerr for her aspect’s second.
ST: Sam Kerr – 9/10 – Opened the scoring with a sweetly struck volley, and doubled her tally with a sometimes cool end. Denied a hat-trick by a great Laws save, however netted a 3rd minutes later with a back-post header. A ruthlessly scientific efficiency.
LW: Guro Reiten – 6/10 – Caused issues along with her energetic press, significantly within the first half, making it troublesome for Liverpool to get out of their very own half.
Substitutes
SUB: Magdalena Eriksson (46′ for Buchanan) – 6/10
SUB: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (68′ for Reiten) – 6/10
SUB: Sophie Ingle (68′ for James) – 6/10
SUB: Maren Mjelde (77′ for Kirby) – 6/10
SUB: Melanie Leupolz (83′ for Cuthbert) – 6/10
GK: Rachael Laws – 6/10 – A bit hit-and-miss along with her distribution, however stored Liverpool within the sport with an excellent second-half save, tipping a Kerr effort vast because the Chelsea striker tried to take the ball round her.
RB: Emma Koivisto – 6/10 – Had a great battle up in opposition to the normally damaging Reiten. Replaced within the latter levels.
CB: Niamh Fahey – 5/10 – Played her aspect into bother on a few events when trying to play out from the again. Made an vital final ditch deal with to maintain out James within the second half.
CB: Jasmine Matthews – 5/10 – Had a troublesome time retaining monitor of the energetic Kerr.
LB: Megan Campbell – 5/10 – Never a straightforward job up in opposition to Lauren James. Largely spent the sport in her personal half and infrequently in a position to utilise her lengthy throws.
CM: Fuka Nagano – 7/10 – Provided the looping cross that precipitated issues within the Chelsea field within the build-up to Liverpool’s first purpose. Helped drive the Reds ahead within the second half.
CM: Ceri Holland – 7/10 – Dispossessed deep in her personal half within the build-up to Chelsea’s second, however atoned for her error with a wonderful strike from the sting of the field to offer Liverpool hope of a combat again, arrowing the ball into the underside nook first time. Won the header within the construct as much as Liverpool’s second.
CM: Miss Bo Kearns – 6/10 – Instrumental in Liverpool’s first purpose, spinning Kirby within the Chelsea field and well teeing up Holland.
RW: Yana Daniels – 5/10 – Rarely on the ball excessive up on the pitch and by no means had a chance to check Carter defensively. Replaced simply earlier than the hour.
ST: Katie Stengel – 5/10 – Struggled up in opposition to the physicality of Bright and unable to exert her typical affect on proceedings.
LW: Mel Lawley – 7/10 – Rarely on the ball within the closing third of the pitch within the first half. Drifted to the again publish to gather the free ball and discover Kearns within the build-up to Liverpool’s purpose. A a lot improved second half, instrumental in pushing the Reds ahead. Saw a stinging effort tipped over in stoppage time.
Substitutes
SUB: Gemma Bonner (58′ for Daniels) – 7/10 – Netted Liverpool’s second, bundling residence from a nook.
SUB: Taylor Hinds (58′ for Campbell) – 7/10 – Made an actual affect from the bench, livening up the left flank.
SUB: Sophie Lundgaard (69′ for Kearns) – 6/10
SUB: Leighanne Robe (76′ for Koivisto) – 6/10
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