Chelsea have booked their place in the Women’s FA Cup final after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Aston Villa. The Blues, who are the holders of the trophy, were made to work hard for their victory, with Sam Kerr’s second-half strike proving to be the difference between the two sides.
The game started off at a frenetic pace, with both sides looking to take the initiative. Chelsea had the better of the early exchanges, with Kerr and Fran Kirby both going close with efforts on goal. However, Villa were able to keep the scoreline level, thanks in part to some excellent defending from Aoife Mannion and Kerri Welsh.
The second half saw Chelsea take control of the game, with Kerr proving to be a constant menace for the Villa defence. The Australian international eventually broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute, firing home from close range after being found by Kirby.
Villa responded well to going behind, with Welsh and Mannion both going close with efforts on goal. However, Chelsea held firm to secure their place in the final. The Blues will now face either Manchester City or Arsenal in the showpiece event.
The Women’s FA Cup final will be broadcast live on BBC Sport, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds. The game will be available to UK users only. This is sure to be an exciting game, with Chelsea looking to retain their title and Villa hoping to cause an upset. No matter who wins, it promises to be a thrilling contest.