Quadruple in sight for Chelsea after semi-final win
Chelsea’s 2-1 win in the Women’s FA Cup Semi-final at home to Liverpool on April 12 has edged them one step closer to a historic quadruple.
Chelsea’s dominant 60% possession and 54 touches in the box eventually paid off when Beever-Jones’ 94th minute header edged them through to the final. Liverpool had taken the lead in the 21st minute and nearly won it themselves in stoppage time, when Hinds hit the woodwork, but it was not to be. Interim boss Amber Whiteley said: “We didn’t get the result we wanted but I’m so proud of them today. They gave absolutely everything for each other. They went to war for each other today.”
Meanwhile, Manchester United booked their place at Wembley with a 2-0 win away to rivals Manchester City. Both goals came early in the first half, with City unable to produce any reply. United will be looking to win the trophy for the second year in a row, after their 4-0 win in last year’s final against Tottenham won them the club’s first major trophy in the women’s game.
Chelsea will face Manchester United in the later stages of the FA Cup for the third year in a row. The London side lost to the Red Devils in last year’s semi-final, but beat them 1-0 in the 2022/23 final.
Chelsea could lift the title with two wins in their next two games
In the Women’s Super League, Chelsea sit three points clear of Arsenal, who have played a game more. Arsenal’s form under Renee Slegers has raised hopes for a reignited title race, though a monumental collapse from Sonia Bompastor’s side would be needed were they not to lift the trophy for a sixth season in a row. Chelsea could lift the title with two wins in their next two games. They host bottom side Crystal Palace on April 23, then travel away to rivals Spurs on May 4, and would additionally require Arsenal and Manchester United each to lose one game before then.
Chelsea will be keen to add the WSL crown to their one trophy already this season, the League Cup, won against Manchester City in March. A 2-1 win for the Blues saw them win the trophy for the first time in four years, despite featuring in the final every year since 2020.
The trophy furthest out of Chelsea’s reach at this time, and one which they’ve consistently struggled to win, is the Champions League. Chelsea travel to Spain for a blockbuster semi-final clash with Barcelona on Easter Sunday, before hosting the second leg on April 17.
Barcelona have long ruled the head-to-head record against Chelsea
It was in a second-leg semi-final at home to Barcelona this time last year that Chelsea were knocked out of the competition, as Barcelona went on to become champions of Europe for the third time. Chelsea were also knocked out by Barcelona at the same stage in 22/23, when a spirited draw at the Nou Camp wasn’t enough to overturn a 1-0 home defeat.
Barcelona have long ruled the head-to-head record against Chelsea, the most humbling result of which was their 4-0 thrashing in the 2020/21 Champions League final. Chelsea’s lone victory against the Spanish juggernauts came as a shock away from home this time last season, and was overturned by Barcelona in a controversial second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Can Chelsea become the second English team to win the quadruple after Arsenal in 2006/07? Should Chelsea not win four trophies this term, it is the Champions League that is most likely to evade them. Yet European glory is at the top of their ambitions. A quadruple-ending blow in the FA Cup final, a competition they’ve won five times, would surely be softened should the Blues finally get their hands on the biggest trophy club football has to offer.
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