Six-time Adobe Women’s FA Cup winners and reigning champions Chelsea are into the semi-finals once again.
Ahead of the weekend, it’s time to revisit the Blues’ journey to this stage of the competition.
Chelsea 5-0 Crystal Palace
The Blues’ title defence began with a five-star performance at Kingsmeadow, cruising through to the fifth round proper after beating fellow London outfit Crystal Palace, whom Chelsea faced en-route to the final in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.
The holders were a goal to the good with 13 minutes gone after captain Millie Bright headed Chelsea in front.
Sam Kerr was at the double – scoring either side of the break – while Guro Reiten stepped up from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark, and Alyssa Thompson put the icing on the cake with 20 minutes left on the watch to extend the Blues’ six-game winning streak across all competitions.
Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United
In a repeat of last season’s Women’s FA Cup Final, Chelsea came up against Manchester United back in February.
The Blues, 3-0 winners over their WSL rivals under the Wembley arch in the 2024-25 showpiece, made the breakthrough courtesy of substitute Kerr – who scored the winner in the 2022-23 final against Manchester United – on her milestone 150th appearance for the club, with just over ten minutes remaining.
But their opponents responded just minutes later as Simi Awujo netted the equaliser and forced the tie to extra time.
Changes were made with fresh legs introduced and the Blues had Naomi Girma to thank at both ends of the pitch, making defensive interventions and eventually scoring the winner which booked the club’s place in the last eight.
Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
The Blues drew Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-final as Veerle Buurman struck late in the day to help Chelsea make this season’s semi-final.
Australian striker Kerr continued in the same rich vein of form she has found herself in this season in the competition, making it four goals in three FA Cup outings when she gave Sonia Bompastor’s side the lead with 40 minutes played.
Eveliina Summanen restored parity when she made it 1-1 in the second half but Spurs’ Lize Kop couldn’t keep out Buurman’s strike – her first goal for the club – from the edge of the area to win it.
