Chelsea 2 – 1 Liverpool
By Emmanuel Faith (12/04/2025)
Above: Chelsea’s starting lineup for the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool. Photo: Chelsea FC Women.
Goals from Erin Cuthbert and Aggie Beever-Jones ensured Chelsea reached their fourth FA Cup final in five years.
Chelsea have had their sights set on the quadruple since the beginning of the season. The goal has always been to have a domestic clean sweep and with the League Cup already in the cabinet, beating a resilient Liverpool team was a daunting challenge they had to overcome.
Last season, Emma Hayes’ Chelsea lost the FA cup semi-final to Manchester United thanks to two early goals from United. Lauren James pulled one back at the end of the half, but it wasn’t enough to see the Blue Army through. This time, they started on the front foot, dominating from the opening minute, while Liverpool’s defense had to be alert to every danger.
Against the run of play, it was the reds who opened the scoring after the Canadian wonder Olivia Smith put a well-placed strike past Hannah Hampton.
Liverpool, aspiring to reach their first final since 1996, gained more confidence and could have doubled their lead through a leaping header from Marie Höbinger in the 28th minute.
Chelsea rallied towards the end of first half and their pressure paid off after Erin Cuthbert got her goal, latching on to a loose ball from Ramirez.
The second half opened with a flurry of chances; the current WSL champions stepped on the gas, however the Merseyside team were dogged and determined, preventing threats from Baltimore, Nusken and other blues.
Liverpool had the chance to go 2-1 ahead after Taylor Hinds redirected a curling shot towards Chelsea’s goalpost but she hit the bar thanks to a finger-tip save from the Lionesses’ current number one.
The game was heading for extra-time until English whiz kid Aggie-Beever Jones put a thumping header past the Liverpool shot stopper after connecting with a brilliant cross from Baltimore.
Even when it didn’t look glaringly obvious, Chelsea dominated the game in possession (60:40) and attempts (24 to six), and their last-minute win could almost be described as typical for what they have given the fans this season. This will serve as a reminder to their opponents that it is never over until it is over.
The Blues will play a team from either side of Manchester in the final next month, while hoping they bring the FA Cup back to Kingsmeadow. For now, all eyes are on the UWCL semis as they take a trip to Spain next week, hoping to end the jinx against their familiar foes, Barcelona.
TEAMS: CHELSEA (4-2-2): Hampton, Baltimore, Bright, Bjorn, Bronze, Tomas, Kaptein, Walsh, Cuthbert, Kaynerd, Ramirez, Beever-Jones. Substitutes: Spencer, Jeane-Francois, Charles, Lawrence, Fishel, Reiten (for Wieke Kaptein 90+6), Macario (for Beever-Jones 90+6), Nusken (for Ramirez 60’).
Scorers: Erin Cuthbert 45+2’, Aggie Beever-Jones 90+4’
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Laws, Fisk, Bonner, Evans, Hinds, Kerr, Nagano, Smith, Höbinger, Kapocs, Kiernan. Substitutes: Kirby, Daniels, Clark, Micah, Fahey, Parry, Enderby (for Kapocs 90+6’), Roman Haug (for Kiernan 61’), Matthews (For Smith 88′).
Scorer: Olivia Smith 21’
Referee: Kirsty Dowle
Attendance: TBC
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