Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
Aggie Beever-Jones scored a stoppage-time winner as Chelsea booked their spot in the Women's FA Cup final by beating Liverpool 2-1.
Liverpool took the lead against the run of play through Olivia Smith’s low finish, but Erin Cuthbert levelled on the stroke of half-time for the hosts.
Republic of Ireland international Leanne Kiernan started as centre forward for the Reds. After making contributions to attacks in the first-half, the 25-year-old received treatment to her leg on the pitch following a collision with Lucy Bronze with 30 minutes left to play. Kiernan walked off the pitch but was unable to return to play, with Sophie Roman Haug taking her place in the 61st minute.
Chelsea went close after the break through Beever-Jones and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd before the Reds had an opportunity when Taylor Hinds’ dipping strike bounced off the crossbar in the final moments.
With the game seemingly destined for extra-time, Beever-Jones’ late header secured Chelsea’s place in next month’s Wembley final and kept the team’s quadruple hopes alive.
In the opening minutes, Cuthbert curled a teasing corner into the six-yard area for Nathalie Bjorn, who was unable to nod home.
Chelsea continued to threaten from corners, with Rachael Laws forced to push away a dipping delivery from Sandy Baltimore on the right.
Cuthbert then cut through the defence before playing a quick pass into Rytting Kaneryd in the middle of the box and the midfielder had her low effort deflected wide.
Despite Chelsea’s dominant start, Liverpool suddenly struck with their first real effort on goal 21 minutes in after Marie Hobinger played a smart through ball into Smith, who made a brilliant sprint down the right to cut in and beat Baltimore before finishing low in the far corner.
Millie Bright made a vital block to deny Smith as the Reds looked to extend their advantage and they came close from the resulting corner when an unmarked Grace Fisk volleyed over the bar.
Fisk then turned provider with another break down the right and passed into Hobinger, who had her powerful effort saved by Hannah Hampton before Gemma Bonner nodded wide from a corner.
Following a good spell of pressure, Chelsea pulled one back through Cuthbert in the second minute of first half stoppage-time.
Liverpool were unable to defend Baltimore’s cross and Mayra Ramirez made an important touch to flick the ball into the Scotland midfielder, who hooked her shot in off the post.
Chelsea started the second half well and Ramirez weaved into the box, but the visitors cleared before she could shoot and Bonner made a great challenge to stop Beever-Jones.
Liverpool were forced to react again to defend Bright’s header and Laws made two saves, claiming a cross from Bronze on the right before making a quick stop from Beever-Jones’ close-range effort.
The chances kept coming as Beever-Jones and Cuthbert both had strikes sail over the crossbar either side of Laws pouncing on a low header from Rytting Kaneryd.
Wieke Kaptein sliced a shot wide at the back post as the game boiled down to the final stages and Liverpool nearly snatched a late winner when Hinds’ dipping shot smashed off the bar and was clawed away by Hampton.
However, Beever-Jones had the final say for Chelsea in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, heading the ball over Laws from Baltimore’s cross to send her side to Wembley.
