Chelsea 6-0 Aston Villa: (Ji x3, Aluko, Kirby, Spence).
A hat trick from Korean hotshot Ji So-Yun helped Chelsea Ladies through to the semi final of the SSE FA Women’s Cup after an emphatic win over second tier Aston Villa. Goals from Eniola Aluko, Fran Kirby and Drew Spence added to the victory.
It was a dominant performance from the hosts, but it took until the 42nd minute for the deadlock to be broken. Drew Spence turned, and on the half volley, rocketed past Villa stopper Jess Myers, who was the stand out performer for the Villans.
Whilst Villa did their best to outwit players more superior in skill and fitness, Ji So-Yun was causing them problems through the middle and from set pieces. The lead was almost doubled when Elisha N’Dow cleared her header off the line.
The ever-reliable pairing of Kirby and Ji combined as Chelsea did soon double their lead. Kirby was released into the box by Gemma Davison and she tapped the ball across goal to the Korean, who poked home from six yards.
Davison was to prove pivotal for the home side, the midfield setting up Kirby for a third after a fine run and pass.
The fourth goal didn’t come until a frantic final few minutes that saw Chelsea double their goal tally in just 5 minutes. Ji grabbed her second of the game as Drew Spence fed her the ball in the box. The Korean was never going to miss.
In a move created from Villa’s kick off, it was 5-0. Neat play down the wing saw the ball fall to Aluko. Cutting in from the left in her typical style, she crossed the ball across to Kirby, but the ball didn’t need the striker’s touch as it sailed all the way in. Was it a cross or was it a shot?
The sixth, and Ji’s third, wrapped up Chelsea’s win. The impressive Spence flicked the ball on and Ji sweetly struck a fine volley past Myers.
Chelsea coach Rob Udberg: “We were confident that we if we keep up the playing style we’re accustomed to that hard work would tell.”
“There were some nice team goals, and as a team we are always excited by team goals. That’s the stuff we are proud of as a team.”
“Villa made us work for the performance and it’s a big game for us. It’s an FA Cup quarter final and they weren’t going to come here and make it easy for us, but it’s hard to keep it up over 90 minutes.”
Striker Fran Kirby: “It was a goal we set out to do (to win) and to get to Wembley, so we’ve got to make sure we’re sharp, stay fit and ready to go.”
“In the second half we took advantage of the fitness element and pressed on for more goals. We want to try and score as many as we can.”
“Hopefully in the next round we get a home tie so we can get as many down here (at Wheatsheaf Park) as possible.”
CHELSEA: Spencer, Blundell, Bright, Fahey (C), Davison, Carney, So-Yun, Kirby, England, Spence, Bailey. SUBS: Kitching, Flaherty, Aluko, Chapman, Russo.
ASTON VILLA: Myers, Crackle, George, Richards, Mayling, Wilkinson, Robinson, Moran (C), N’Dow, Merrick, West. SUBS: Beattie, Welsh, Toussaint, Baptiste, Bryant.
Referee: Garry Maskell
Attendance: 1147
