Chelsea got their defence of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup trophy off to the perfect start with a comfortable 3-1 victory over fellow Barclays FA Women’s Super League side Aston Villa at The Banks’s Stadium this afternoon.
Chelsea made their chances count with goals either side of the break from Guro Reiten and a first half penalty from Pernille Harder sealing a win that takes the holders into the hat for the fifth round, though some questionable decision-making from the referee will leave Carla Ward’s side wondering what could have been. A late goal for Villa proved to be only a consolation as they exit the competition at the first hurdle.
An even start saw possession shared but quality in the final third was lacking for both sides. Solid defending stifled any clear-cut chances until the ninth minute when a mix up at the back for the hosts almost gifted Chelsea the lead. Hannah Hampton fumbled a catch under pressure but the Villa shot stopper recovered in time to clear the ball away from danger with two Blues players on her heels.
There was little to separate the teams with 15 minutes gone until a fantastic attacking move from Emma Hayes’ side yielded the game’s opening goal. A Jess Carter cross found Reiten with her back to goal and the Norwegian international expertly picked up the ball on the turn and sent a low strike across goal into the bottom left-hand corner.
The goal immediately injected fresh energy into the Chelsea attack and they were rewarded not long after with their second from the penalty spot. Ruesha Littlejohn was judged to have brought down Fran Kirby in the box, a somewhat controversial decision met with cries from the Villa bench. Nevertheless, Harder converted the penalty emphatically, sending Hampton the wrong way to double the visitors’ lead.
Unlike their clinical opponents, Villa failed to make a good spell of chances at the end of the first half count and they went into the break chasing a two-goal deficit.
The second half was certainly a quieter affair with little action of note until the 61st minute when Reiten notched her second goal and Chelsea’s third. Kirby carried the ball into the box before cutting it back for The Blues number 11 whose thumping strike soared into the top corner, giving Hampton no chance.
Villa got one back late on with Ramona Petzelberger converting from the penalty spot with the last kick of the game but Chelsea’s clinical edge meant it was purely a consolation.
Chelsea will now await news of their opponents in the fifth round of the competition.
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