Chelsea progress comfortably into the fifth round of the FA Cup

Catarina Macario and Guro Reiten celebrating a goal. Photo: Chelsea FC Women

Chelsea 4-0 Charlton Athletic

The Blues and the Addicks faced off in a chilly FA cup tie this winter afternoon. Chelsea displayed why they are the reigning champions by comfortably beating the travelling side 4 goals to 0, leaving Charlton unable to cope under the pressure.

From the offset, we saw both sides adding pressure to the opposition with some early chances coming fast at both ends. A few shots from the English forward Karin Muya, created initial concern for the Chelsea fans.

However, both shots were collected into the arms of Hannah Hampton. The Addicks didn’t sit back, and in turn piled the pressure onto the Blues. This resulted in their favour after winning the ball back in the midfield on multiple occasions.

Despite their tight marking, Chelsea demonstrated their individual brilliance as they began to thread some balls together and create exciting link up play. Lauren James and Oriane Jean-Francois found successful connections, leading to a shot from James in the 14th minute which was aimed at Jess Gray.

Muya displayed her versatility as she tracked back to help defend, as well as being a strong presence with teammate Ellie Brazil up front proving a handful for Millie Bright.

In the 18th minute Gray went down injured, but not long after returned to her feet; a relieving sight for the travelling fans. As the first half progressed, Chelsea began to release some shots on target and enjoy possession in and around the opposition's box, but were unable to to find the final ball and capitalise.

Charlton, being pushed back into their box meant the game lost its shape for a period of time. There were a few scuffles in this area and the likes of Erin Cuthbert and James were gifted shots on goal. James showed just how much she was missed in this quality squad while injured and the technical ability she can bring to the pitch.

After many attempts, a deflected cross from Lucy Bronze was met by the unstoppable Columbian forward, Mayra Ramirez, who headed the ball home into the bottom corner of the net.

Following this, 7 minutes of added time was confirmed, which saw a few eventful sequences of play, where Ramirez was fouled in the box leading to a Chelsea penalty to secure their lead going into half time.

Guro Reiten extended her run of successful penalties after she drove the ball low, confidently into the right corner, putting the Blues in a positive position at the break.

Sonia Bompastor chose to make three half-time substitutions with Weike Kaptein replacing Catarina Macario, Niamh Charles replacing Sandy Baltimore and Aggie Beever Jones replacing Mayra Ramirez.

Beever Jones made an instant impact scoring just two minutes later, after catching Gray off her line and hitting it over her head.

Other than some initial opportunities for the visitors, including 3 consecutive corners which didn’t produce a result, Chelsea ultimately had a switch of momentum and found new creativity with fresh legs.

Charlton were unable to maintain possession for long and the Chelsea players were starting to play with confidence on the front foot.

Lucy Bronze, began to find success down the right wing and used her pace to break through the midfield. She released some impressive crosses in and around the opposition's box.

Charlton were clearly starting to look tired and didn’t have the same quality and depth on the bench as the home side; lacking energy to pressurise in the way they had started out. They were becoming reliant on counter attacks and when these came about, they didn’t have the numbers up front to convert a goal.

Chelsea had found new space on the pitch from the substitutes and were enjoying experimenting with different attacking sequences. After multiple chances from Maika Hamano and Beever Jones, Niamh Charles struck the ball cleanly into the near post from the left wing, putting the Blues 4-0 up.

Charlton, growing less confident and weaker in structure, allowed the likes of Bronze to push forward down the right side and provide some promising balls into the box and even open up a shot on goal herself. The home side were comfortably pinging the ball around in the final third, playing fearlessly as they searched for a 5th goal.

As the game drew to a close, Kaptein went down in pain after a foul from Sophie O’Rourke. Unfortunately, she was unable to return to her feet and after being assessed for a number of minutes and was stretchered off; a worrying watch for the players and the fans.

The game ended soon after in a 4-0 victory to the home side, replicating the previous scoreline on the last occasion that these teams faced each other.

Chelsea ease into the 5th round of the FA Cup, whilst Charlton return their focus to the Women's Championship.

Teams:

Head Coach: Sonia Bompastor

Substitutes used: Weike Kaptein, Niamh Charles, Aggie Beever Jones, Sjoeke Nusken, Maira Hamano

Scorers: Mayra Ramirez, Guro Reiten (P), Aggie Beever Jones, Niamh Charles

Head Coach: Karen Hills

Substitutes used: Sophie O’Rourke, Atlanta Primus, Glória Siber, Mary Bashford, Janis Chime