Which means we’re done here. Thanks for your company and enjoy the rest of the weekend. Peace out!
And here’s Suzy Wrack’s match report.
Anita Asante says she fears for Chelsea against Barca and I can’t argue with her. I just don’t see how they can compete in midfield, nor how their defence can cope without Bright and Buchannan – assuming both are still absent.
Also going on:
“What I expected – difficult pitch, ugly game,” says Hayes. She thinks it was a really good Cup-tie – her team scored when they were on top then dropped off – but again, she comments on a pitch with little grass in the boxes. On which point, that is inexcusable. There are plenty of proper pitches knocking about, this match deserved one of them.
Lehmann also thinks her team deserved to win. They prepared well, Chelsea are one of the best teams in the world and Villa are good enough to compete with them, but they just didn’t take their chances. “It’s not our lucky day, I guess,” she says in conclusion, but I’m afraid it was a matter, not of luck, but of quality.
I’m not really sure Vila were the better team though. They played well, true enough, but Chelsea always looked to have a bit more, and had they conceded an equaliser, I’d still have expected them to find a winner in extra time.
Carla Ward is heartbroken for the players, saying they were the better team over 90 minutes. She told them pre-match if they could leave it all out there, they’d be OK at the end, but the better team lost – some of her players are in tears – but Sam Kerr did what she does and she wishes Chelsea well in the final. Longer-term, though, she thinks Villa are closing the gap, and with her telling them what’s what, there’s no reason to think that won’t continue.
Under way shortly…
Kerr says Reiten knows she likes balls to the back post and served her a decent one. She also reckons it was a gutsy, rather than a classy performance – it’s hard coming back from international duty, she concedes – and says that at full-time, Hayes said well done and thank you. I told you she was a good boss! I’m sure she’ll have some more substantive words for them during the next week at she prepares her team for the Barca semi, though – and, real talk, I fear for them in that.
Back to Villa, though, they’re on the move. Carla Ward is a really impressive character, her players are responding to her, and they’ll be much better again next season. The standard of the league is improving so quickly.
So class tells in the end – Chelsea’s goal was beautifully created and very well finished, while Villa just didn’t have the composure and technique at crucial moments – but if they don’t improve, a lot, they’ll still end the season empty-handed. Other hand, we could say they found a way to win which is what champions do, so you pays your money you takes your choice.
FULL-TIME: Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea
That was the final action of the match. Che;lea are going to Wembley, and they’ll play Manchester United in the 2023 FA Cup final!
90+4 min WHAAAAAAT?! A clearance straight down the middle sends Kerr away! Pachecco isn’t going to get there, Kerr’s first touch is good, and she opens boby telling Hampton she’s going right, sweeps her finish left … and Hampton smothers! She should’ve scored – I’m amazed she’s missed – but that’s a very, very good save and has kept Villa in the Cup!
90+3 min But here they come again, Nobbs in possession 30 yards out, having a look and having a dip … but her effort is straight at Musovic.
90+2 min It’s a weird thing, because though Villa have had chances, it’s never really felt like they were going to take one.
90+4 min Fara Williams names Kerr her player of the match, which is fair enough – she scored what looks like being the winner and has also run the channels well. We know she can play loads better, but that doesn’t mean she’s not been the pick of the bunch nevertheless. Four additional minutes…
90 min Villa have played really well since going behind, but they’ve just lacked that bit of class and composure in front of goal.
89 min Here comer Villa again! Nobbs pulls right, crosses well, Patten flicks on … and at the back post, Hanson can’t quite catch up with it.
87 min Another change for Chelsea, Rytting Kaneryd on for Reiten.
87 min And you’ve got to say, Barcelona will not be especially worried watching this performance. Chelsea have a chance in that tie because Barca’s line is higher than the sun – James and Kerr will fancy that – but it’s a puncher’s chance, no more than that.
86 min I must say, I expected more composure from Chelsea as they try to see this out, but Villa are getting in amongst them.
84 min Ach, Villa hre having at it, Dali putting a really good ball into the box that’s cleared only as far as Mayling, who controls well … but as she steps into her shot, the ball bobbles a little, and she can’t get full laces on it, sending it skipping against the foot of the post! Villa are having a proper go here!
81 min Hanso’s played really today and again she gets down the left, crossing towards the back post, and when Chesela don’t get a solid head on it, the ball drops to Dali … who leathers over the top! Villa have had chances today, none of them quite clear-cut – to score from there would’ve taken a really good hit, think Ryan Giggs v Juventus in 1999 – but still, they should really have taken one, and definitely worked Musovic more than they have.
80 min Now here come Villa! Hanson escapes down the right, crosses, Lehmann retrieves, crosses, Hanson’s first touch is excellent, dragging the ball down from hip-eright … but Nobbs can only stab wide! Villa are coming!
79 min Charles does really well to pursue Eriksson’s long ball sliding into a cross that diverts it away from the by-line and straight to Kerr, loitering in the box! But just as we’re all thinking game over, she drags her finish wide of the near post! I was not expecting that!
77 min I’m surprised we’ve not seen Ward make any changes, but then Mayling keeps the width, collects a pass from Lehmann and plays a really clever square-pass into the box as a return! The angle is relatively acute, but Lehmann has time, and she laces a pretty decent effort just wide of the far post!
76 min Villa have run out of ideas and, let’s be real, they weren’t exactly labouring under a surfeit to begin with. Dali finds herself on the right, whams a cross to no one, and Musovic claims unopposed.
Updated
74 min Chelsea attack down the left and Nobbs concedes a corner, Reiten with it. She aims for Charles beyond the back post – we’ve seen a lot of outswingers today, from both sides, when perhaps they might try and put the keepers under pressure – and shonuff, nothing comes of it.
72 min I know Chelsea have a ridiculous squad and also that Hayes probably know a little more than I do about both football and her players. But I wonder if those changes might affect the rhythm of things – though even if they do, I’m not sure Villa have the quality to take advantage.
71 min This has nothing to do with football whatsoever, but demands acknowledgement nevertheless.
Neil Robertson knocking in two breaks of 146 in the final three frames is quite good snooker.#QuiteGoodSnooker pic.twitter.com/BFG2Q5X2hB
— Phil Haigh (@philhaigh_) April 16, 2023
70 min A further change for Chelsea, Fleming on for Cuthbert – who’s been quiet.
69 min Er, sort of, the ball dropping inside the box … but no Villa player is within three yards of it and again Chelsea clear.
68 min Lehmann attacks Carter and wins another corner; can Staniforth find a telling delivery?
67 min Hansen runs at Mjelde, looking to burn past her on the outside. But though he works a yard of space, her cross is to no one and Chelsea clear.
67 min Villa win a corner down the right which Staniforth swings out, but Daly, up first, has three defenders in front of her so can only head up and over.
65 min Fair play to Fara, who called the removal of James saying she looked tired. I’m still surprised she’s been taken off with so long to go, but Chelsea have a strong enough squad to adjust if they end up playing extra time.
Updated
64 min Double change for Chelsea, Cahrles and Ingle replacing Leupolz, who’s less than gruntled, and James.
62 min So what do Villa have now they’re under pressure? That moment will love with Lehmann for the rest of her life if they can’t find something here.
GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea (Kerr 60)
HOW THEY ARE RUEING NOW! Reiten does brilliantly down the left, selling Mayling bridge before dipping inside and finding Cankovic, who controls beautifully, adjusting her body-position, moving away from her marker, and feeding a return. Reiten then caresses over a fine cross and Kerr, moving away from Patten nods powerfully into the far side-netting. That, my friends, is class.
Updated
59 min Now here come Villa again! Nobbs moves right, curls in a decent ball, and when Leupolz makes first contact, it drops for Lehmann … who drills hard, low and into the side-netting! From one angle, that looked in some in the crowd thought it was home – and what a chance that was! How Villa might rue that come full-time!
58 min Excellent from Dali down the left, cutting back inside Perisset before curving a tasty-looking cross into the middle for Daly. Eriksson, though, unwittingly blocks her view of it, so the ball hits her head ands goes behind.
56 min Cuthbert spreads for Reiten, whose low cross is kicked clear by the sliding Turner. She’s playing really well here, but Chelsea are upping the pressure, Turner making a terrific block when Perisset cuts back for James.
55 min We’ve seen little of Villa as an attacking force this half, but for now they’re largely neutering Chelsea.
54 min It’s gone a bit wild at West Ham, where Bukayo Saka missed a penalty for 3-1 minutes before Jarrod Bowen made it 2-2. The title won’t be settled today, but if Arsenal bin another 2-0 lead, they’ll have a problem.
52 min I don’t think it’ll be long before Chelsea make a change or two. They play Barcelona next weekend, and the last thing they need is extra time.
50 min Now her come Villa, Mayling marauding forward and looking to dink a cross to the near post … that has Musovic backpeddling, as it lands onto the roof of the net! That was almost a glorious fluke.
50 min Reiten curls low and hard but Hampton saves easily enough, down by her near post.
48 min Mayling is late on Reiten, wearing a forearm to the temple for her trouble. So Chelsea pump the free-kick into the box and when Villa partially clear it, Pachecco bumps Perisset to the ground. Free-kick, just, just outside the box and down the right-hand side.
Updated
47 min “Caught napping” is a phrase I don’t think I’ve seen used anywhere but in Roy of the Rovers.
46 min Immediately, Kerr flicks on for Reiten, who drives across that’s just too high for James. But it drops nicely for Cankovic, who doesn’t panic, chesting down well before swivelling into the shot that cannons the near angle! That’s a great effort, and Villa were caught napping there!
46 min …but no changes, yet. We go again!
Pernille Harder is warming up…
Half-time reading:
Half-time: Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea
Villa will be pleased with that. They played well in the last 15 minutes, while Chelsea did not – though they’ve missed a few decent opportunities. I daresay Emma Hayes will be sharing some sentiments during the break.
45+2 min James runs at Staniforth, chopping inside and nipping outside – I feel dizzy watching it – then plays a square pass. The ball then goes left to Cankovic, who has time to measure a cross, it’s glanced across the box by Turner and lands in front of the onrushing Perisset …. who skies her shot! In fairness, the ball bounces pretty high, but she had to do better than that there.
45+1 min Hansen sashays away from Leupolz, who goes through with her challenge anyway, conceding a free-kick. Staniforth will stick it into the box, but Kerr wins a decent header and Chelsea counter…
45 min We’ll have two extra minutes.
45 min Chelsea need to get James more involved – she looks dangerous every time she’s on the ball, though of course as I type that she botches a relatively simple pass that, had she hit it properly, would’ve sent Reiten in on goal.
Updated
44 min Now Cuthbert finds space 30 yards out, moving into the middle from the left before dragging a shot wide.
43 min During the break, Hayes had some words with her team and rightly so. But here come Villa again – they’re growing in confidence – Staniforth first to a loose clearance that drops 25 yards out, and she crane-kicks a decent effort that has Musovic scrambling to save down by the right-hand post.
41 min Musovic is down receiving treatment – she collided with the hoardings as she and Daly fought for the ball following that shot that went wide and, I think, took a stamp to the foot. She should, though, be fine.
39 min What do we make of this yellow Chelsea away kit? It reminds me a bit of this one from 1984, though obviously isn’t as good.
And here’s some bonus Eddie Niedzwiecki.
37 min Hanson wins a free-kick, wafted into the box, where Eriksson concedes the corner. Villa are having a good few minutes, but Staniforth’s corner is just a bit too high.
35 min Suddenly Villa threaten Daly unable to introduce head to cross, then Hanson does superbly to draw in Perisset, who gets too close and is spun. So Hanson cracks over a low cross and Daly is first to the near post … but Eriksson does really well to get back at her, blocking her attempted turn into the corner.
33 min Nice from Dali, winning possession in midfield with a sliding tackle, but she then rushes her pass over the top for Hanson. No matter: Pachecco finds Hanson who darts into the box from the left-hand side and, as things open up, can only curl a rising shot well over the top. She might’ve done better there.
32 min This is a bit messy now, Cuthbert trying a ball over the top for Kerr but putting way too much on it. Chelsea might want to move the ball in the final third as they’re doing into midfield, making angles, rather than looking for killer passes and shots as soon as they get proximate to goal.
30 min The corner is cleared so back to James, I think she might be the most natural-looking footballer in the game. There are certain players who look like they’re playing in the future – Duncan Edwards was one, Ronaldo Fenomeno another – and I feel that way about James, who looks next generation in terms of her movement, feet and athleticism.
29 min Pachecco wins a corner for Villa just as I was about to rhapsodise James, so we’ll come back to her in a second.
28 min Staniforth plays Dali into trouble just outside the Villa box, so Dali tries to drop a shoulder and use her body to get out. She can’t, though, James in quickly to pick up possession before immediately lashing a low drive just wide of the post.
26 min Reiten escapes down the left and in the middle, Kerr makes a a really good near-post dart that loses Turner. The ball in is decent too, but under pressure Kerr has to go at it first-time, unable to get enough purchase with the outside of her right boot so Hampton saves at the near post.
25 min Villa will be pretty pleased with how this is going. They’ll have wanted to get at Chelsea early, which hasn’t happened, but they have limited the chances they’ve given up and look capable to finding something in behind. Other hand, Chelsea are playing like a team that knows a goal is coming.
24 min James gets a run at Turner, slowing her up then going on the outside. But Turner comes back well, blocking her shot well enough so that Hampton saves easily enough.
23 min They cannot, Staniforth’s cross headed away by Cuthbert.
22 min Patten marches forward with the ball and spreads to Lehmann, whose cross is blocked behind by Carter. Can Villa make anything of it?
20 min Nice from Chelsea, working the ball across the width off the pitch as they probe for space, then James’ cross is headed clear as Cankovic goes down … aha, she run into Staniforth, who very much let her, bashing oesophagus on elbow. It’s a bit sore, but she’ll be fine, while Staniforth does well to escape punishment because that was naughty.
18 min Yup, I think the pattern is now set: Chelsea dominating, Villa defending, and as I type that, Kerr looks to be in behind. But a decent sliding tackle from Patten sends the ball into Kerr and behind. Chelsea, though, come again…
Updated
16 min Kerr holds up and wins a corner, which Reiten pulls back to James, running towards the near post – think Tottenham, mid-90s, Anderton to Sheringham – but the ball bobbles a bit, so James can only shoot wide.
15 min Again, Villa look to send Lehman in behind Eriksson, who steps up. The flag is raised, but I’m not sure that was offside, and as we said earlier, Villa know they’ve a chance given the players missing from Chelsea’s defence.
13 min Mayling is late on Reiten, who sends a pass away then wears a kick that dumps her on the ground. This time, Chelsea go shot and square to Cuthbert, whose touch is poor – she clatters Pacheco retrieving it – and Perisswet then plays into James, who moves across the face of the box from left to centre before unfurling a curler that whizzes wide.
13 min I wonder if Chelseas are taking control of this game now, moving the ball about at the back trying to bait Villa, in then attacking the spaces they’re left.
Updated
11 min Perisset drills to the penalty spot area and Eriksson is up, unopposed, but her header thuds straight into Hampton’s gloves.
10 min Daly is playing very deep at the moment. She said pre-match that Ward wants her to go where centre-forwards generally don’t, but in co-comms, Farah Williams thinks she needs to be running in behind, not playing passes trying to usher in others. I guess we’ll see – I see both sides – but in the meantime, James wins a corner for Chelsea down the right…
8 min Nobbs pulls right and wins a throw, but then Dali’s cross is blocked and Chelsea clear. Villa aren’t waiting to be asked here – they’re trying to make the most of this opportunity, hunting a goal though they’re leaving themselves a little exposed at the back.
7 min I should, though, note that Kerr has already threatened in behind on a few occasions. I guess that’s part and parcel of playing Chelsea – you can’t stop that – but perhaps Villa might put a player in front of and behind her, given she’s playing up front on her bill,
5 min Excellent from Patten, who sends a long ball over the top for Lehmann, in behind Carter. But Carter does really well to come back at her, a challenge not only thwarting the attack but winning her side a goalkick. Still, though, Villa have started well.
4 min Daly heads away well at the front post, but Lehman can’t find a decent pass as Villa attempt a counter. They’re looking to get the ball forward quickly, and here’s Pachecco moving away from James down the left, before a swift kick stop her in her tracks.
3 min And there’s Reiten running off Kerr who wins a flick-on; Turner does well to slide in at cost of a corner, Perisset to take.
2 min I think Chelsea are playing 4-1-4-1, and as I type that, Nobbs slides a ball in behind for Daly, splitting the centre-backs, but the flag goes up.
1 min Almost immediately, Villa look long, seeking Hanson down the left – that might be a plan, though this time nothing comes of it.
1 min …and away we go!
The teams take the knee…
There’s a decent atmosphere in the ground – lots of flags and a 500-strong Chelsea contingent. It’s on!
Here come our teams!
Carla Ward says many people didn’t think Villa would get to this stage, and she considers Chelsea the best side in the country. She reckons her team didn’t look after the ball well enough when they last met, and having Mayling back gives them better balance as well as facilitating Staniforth’s return to midfield
Elsewhere, Arsenal men have taken an early lead at West Ham.
Daly’s dog, Sausage, has her own spot in the changing room, and the girls get vexed if she’s not brought in. Tremendous stuff.
Rachel Daly is popular at Aston Villa 🐶
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 16, 2023
📲 Watch the #WomensFACup live on @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/DHUAPX4yW5
Emma Hayes tells BBC she’s had two good training sessions since the players returned from the international break and is expecting Villa to be more aggressive and direct. She reckons Mayling will be hitting early crosses, and asked about the changes she’s made since the last game, says she can’t remember who was in that one, but is really happy with the one she’s got today. Imagine her being your boss – what a woman.
We watch tape of Kerr, and what I love about her is her total dedication to scoring goals. She didn’t know Leah Williamson would make an error in midweek – indeed, she’ll have known it was extremely unlikely – but she still ran in behind in case, then when one came, she had the composure to finish with a lovely touch.
Sam Kerr, fresh from her midweek rinsing of England, tells BBC she didn’t want to come off in that game, she’d just jarred her knee a bit. She thinks Villa will be disappointed in how they played when the teams met the week before last – they’re expecting a much better performance – and though the treble is on the table, Chelsea are focused on the Cup.
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And what a fine piece of opportunism that is, given the unseasonably minging weather. I’m afraid this shot doesn’t do it justice, but what can we do.
Breaking news: Alex Scott, fronting BBC’s coverage, is wearing a terrific coat.
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As for Chelsea, though they’ll expect their superior talent to tell, Emma Hayes will presumably have a plan. I imagine she’ll want her full-backs and wingers making the pitch as wide as possible, stretching the Villa back four across it so there’s space for Kerr in the centre with Reiten making third-player runs off her.
So where is the game? My guess is that Villa will look for their midfield three to outnumber Leupolz and Cankovic, given Reiten will primarily be seeking to create. They’ll then look to get Daly running at Eriksson and Mjelde, whether by attacking them directly or targeting the space behind and between them,
As for Chelsea, they’re now missing both their first-choice centre-backs, with Kadeisha Buchannan joining Millie Bright on the injured list; her spot goes to Maren Mjelde. Otherwise, Jessie Fleming and Sophie Ingle are replaced in midfield by Jelena Cankovic and Melanie Leupolz, so Lauren James takes the former’s spot off the right of the attack, while Erin Cuthbert comes in on the left, moving Guro Reiten inside; Johanna Rytting Kaneryd drops to the bench. Oh, and the brilliant Pernille Harder is on the bench after a hamstring injury sustained in November. That’s great news.
Updated
Villa make one change to the side that suffered that 3-0 home defeat, with Laura Blindkilde dropping to the bench. Her spot at the base of midfield goes to Lucy Staniforth, who moves up from right-back, that position filled by Sarah Mayling.
I’m going to write these down, then we can chat about what they mean…
Let's have some teams!
Aston Villa (4-3-3): Hampton; Mayling, Turner, Patten, Pacheco; Dali, Staniforth, Nobbs; Lehmann, Daly, Hanson. Subs: Allen, Boye-Hlorkah, Gregory, Blindkilde Brown, Leat, Magill, Keitley, Littlejohn.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Musovic; Perisset, Mjelde, Eriksson, Carte; Cankovic, Leupolz; James, Reiten, Cuthbert; Kerr. Subs: Ingle, Fleming, Rytting Kaneryd, Charles, Harder, Abdullina, Orman.
Preamble
It’s that time, isn’t it? Birds a-singin’, lambs a-lambin’, and bums a-squeakin’. What a beautiful thing!
But even in the context, this season is boiling up into an absolute belter, and as we arrive at its staggering denouement, we cannot ignore the fact that Chelsea are on for the treble. Of course, there’s work to do and lots of it, but in the league they trail Man United by a point with a game in hand; in Europe they’re through to a semi-final with Barcelona; and they’ll fancy themselves heavily to win today and book a Wembley date with the aforementioned United.
However, we also cannot ignore the possibility that they might also end up with a big fat nowt. United are in decent form – likewise Arsenal, who’ve still to play both in the league; Barcelona were imperious in their Champions League quarter against Roma; and Villa, today’s opponents, are no mugs whatsoever.
Chances are, Chelsea – who beat Villa 3-0 last time out – have enough to get this game done. Sam Kerr and Lauren James, in particular, are ridiculous players who’ve been far too good for better sides than the one they’ll face today. But Villa will have seen how hard Brighton, the WSL’s bottom team, pushed United yesterday, and know that if they can stick in the game, Rachel Daly and Jordan Nobbs are plenty good enough to turn it in their favour. Here we go!
Kick-off: 2.15pm BST
