Chelsea will face Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final as they continue their bid to lay claim to the domestic trophy for the fourth time under manager Emma Hayes.
The holders cruised into the semi-finals after comfortably shackling fellow WSL side Reading in a 3-1 victory at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
First-half goals from Jess Carter and Maren Mjelde fired Chelsea into the lead shortly after the 20-minute mark before Guro Reiten capped off an outstanding return to the Blues' starting line-up with a well-worked goal of her own to put the game comfortably to bed.
And having avoided title-rivals Manchester United, who are set to face relegation-threatened Brighton Hove & Albion, Chelsea will travel to Aston Villa in April in pursuit of a third successive FA Cup title.
Villa, who dramatically dumped last season’s runners-up Manchester City out of the quarter-finals in extra-time on Sunday, will be a familiar face for the Blues come April. Chelsea will face Carla Ward’s side twice in the space of a fortnight in both the league and the cup.
On the virtue of history, Chelsea will fancy their chances, having run out Villa 3-1 courtesy of a Lauren James brace and Sam Kerr goal in October.
Nevertheless, Villa have cut themselves formidable opposition over the course of the season as they fight to maintain their fifth-place berth in the league table and challenge the top four.
Lionesses star Rachel Daly, whose extra-time goal and 19th of the season in all competitions sealed the victory for the Villains on Sunday, is a particular threat that Chelsea will need to contain if progression in the Cup is to be obtained.
Despite reasserting their dominance on the league after a stuttered start and still competing on the European front, the reigning champions missed out on claiming the first piece of silverware of the season, falling to a lethargic 3-1 defeat to rivals Arsenal in the FA WSL Cup.
Semi-final ties are set to be played on 16 April.
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