Match reportHeartbreak for Liverpool in Women's FA Cup semi-final at Chelsea
Liverpool suffered Adobe Women’s FA Cup heartbreak in a 2-1 stoppage-time defeat by Chelsea in the semi-finals on Saturday.
In the battle for a place at Wembley, the Reds struck the first blow as Olivia Smith supplied the finish to a sumptuous Marie Höbinger assist.
But the opponents at Kingsmeadow found the target in added time of each half, Erin Cuthbert levelling before the interval and Aggie Beever-Jones heading home the decisive effort right at the end.
The home side exerted more of the pressure during the opening quarter-hour, though Rachael Laws’ goal was largely untroubled.
Liverpool’s ’keeper did need to punch away a dangerously inswinging corner from the right flank from underneath her crossbar, with several rebound blocks by her teammates ultimately denying Chelsea.
The Reds carved out their first chance 21 minutes in – and scored from it.
It was a tremendous piece of play, too. Höbinger skimmed a perfectly measured ball inside the right channel for Smith’s run and the Canadian supplied the ideal finish, taking one touch to control and another to drag the ball past Hannah Hampton.
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An extra spring added to their step, Liverpool pressed on and Hampton had to push away a blast from Höbinger after the Austrian was teed up by Grace Fisk on the overlap along the right.
Chelsea rallied and began to increase their threat, however, and the Blues grabbed an equaliser two minutes into the five added on at the end of the first half.
Sandy Baltimore cut through on the right edge of the area and her pullback was kept alive by Mayra Ramirez, allowing Cuthbert to lift a cushioned volley across goal. Laws got a touch but the ball kissed the post and rolled over the line.
The home team were on the front foot right from the restart, with the Reds having to dig in defensively to stem their search for a second goal.
Gemma Bonner produced one particularly crucial and high-class block, diving in to prevent Beever-Jones from fully collecting a forward pass into the area and going one-on-one.
Amber Whiteley’s first personnel change was an enforced one as Leanne Kiernan pulled up with an injury. Sophie Roman Haug was deployed to the attack in her place.
Laws made a good reaction save to beat out a Beever-Jones strike from close range after the Chelsea forward combined with Sjoeke Nusken to control a cross.
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The Liverpool No.1 dropped to claim a downward header from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Cuthbert was not too far away with a rising shot from the ‘D’.
Extra-time soon began to loom but Whiteley’s charges were a coat of paint away from winning it in the final minute of the 90.
Taylor Hinds found some space on the left flank and her lofted cross towards the middle curved goalwards, beat Hampton and bounced out off the crossbar.
And the finest margins swung in the Blues’ favour four minutes into stoppage time. Baltimore made ground on the left and floated in a cross that Beever-Jones nodded over Laws to send her team to next month’s final.
Team
Liverpool: Laws, Fisk, Bonner, Evans, Hinds, Kerr, Nagano, Höbinger, Smith (Matthews, 88), Kiernan (Roman H., 61), Kapocs (Enderby, 90+6).
Unused subs: Micah, Kirby, Parry, Fahey, Clark, Daniels.
Next up
The Reds return to Barclays Women’s Super League action next weekend, travelling to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday (April 19).
Kick-off at Amex Stadium is 12.30pm BST – away tickets and free coach travel can be booked online here.