The Chelsea Women has beaten their Manchester City Counterpart to Setup A Wembley Final in the 2015/2016 English FA Cup

Fran Kirby scored in the last minute of extra-time to send Chelsea Ladies through to a second consecutive FA Women’s Cup final at Wembley.

A penalty shoot-out looked almost certain as a thrilling match edged to a conclusion, but the Blues substitute popped up with a dramatic winner to send Wheatsheaf Park into ecstasy.

A stunning free-kick from Ji So-Yun in the dying minutes of the 90, cancelled a scrappy goal by City’s Jane Ross.

The Blues were back in action for the first time since a 6-0 win over Aston Villa a fortnight ago in the previous round of the FA Women’s Cup and Emma Hayes was able to call upon Claire Rafferty at left-back after injury. However, Niamh Fahey was absent at centre-half through injury, which meant Millie Bright continued alongside Gilly Flaherty, with Hannah Blundell at right-back. Hedvig Lindahl returned between the sticks in place of Becky Spencer.

In midfield, Jade Bailey and Katie Chapman lined up behind the attacking trio of Gemma Davison, Ji So-Yun and Karen Carney, free-kickola Aluko named as the lone centre-forward in place of Fran Kirby.

The pace of the Blues No9 was proving to be a useful outlet in the early exchanges between the two sides, which were as cagey as one might expect from an FA Women’s Cup semi-final and with a place at Wembley up for grabs.

In fact, there was little goalmouth action to mention, save for both goalkeepers confidently claiming crosses, from the opening 20 minutes of the match. Set-pieces were looking the most likely route to goal for the visitors and one such opportunity saw Lindahl save bravely at the feet of a City forward and then Asllani fired the rebound just wide of the target

That led to a response from the Blues, who began to keep possession in the attacking third and a chance finally fell to Blundell as the ball popped up nicely for the right-back to try her luck with a dipping half-volley which wasn’t too far wide.

The best strike of the half came with just five minutes remaining and it was from the boot of City’s captain Steph Houghton, who lined up a free-kick in a threatening position and curled an effort which looked destined for the top corner until Lindahl brilliantly clawed it away at full stretch.

There were no changes made by either side at the half-time interval, but there was certainly a change in approach as both teams looked to get on the front foot.

City enjoyed the better of the opening minutes of the second period and when Duggan headed wide with a free header, it didn’t take long for Hayes to shuffle her pack as she replaced Bailey with Drew Spence.

Chelsea’s best chance of the game came just after the hour when Blundell brilliantly jinked her way down the right and stood up a cross at the back post for Carney to attack. Her header looked to be goal-bound but Bronze managed to get her head in the way to deflect it wide.


Suddenly the Blues were finding a bit more joy down the flanks, but City remained a threat on the counter and on one such occasion it took a perfectly timed challenge from Flaherty to keep out Parris. The centre-back was then crudely taken out by Bronze, who became the first player from the visiting side to be cautioned.

City threatened again in the 70th minute when a low corner-kick was flicked towards goal by Duggan, but Lindahl judged her angles to perfection and watched it past the post. At the other end, Davison was next to try her luck for the Blues, intercepting the ball in midfield and running at her marker before shooting straight at Bardsley.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 72nd minute, but it wasn’t the way the majority in Wheatsheaf Park had hoped. Another set-piece from the visitors caused mayhem in the Chelsea box and although Duggan couldn’t beat Lindahl, Ross was on hand to turn home the rebound

Hayes brought on Kirby and England in a bid to get the equaliser and the change paid off when the latter was fouled just outside the penalty area, giving Ji a great opportunity with a free-kick