Match Report - Chelsea Ladies v Arsenal Ladies Women's FA Cup semi-final

    After the disaster of having a tyre blow out on the A42 on the way to see England Women take on Ukraine in their World Cup Qualifier in Shrewbury, it has been a whole week since I have seen a women's football match. I was rearing to go again and with the ruined tyre replaced was ready to hit the road once more.

     This Sunday saw the Women's FA Cup reach it's semi-final stage with two intriguing ties in prospect, Notts County Ladies v Everton Ladies at Alfreton Town FC, and Chelsea Ladies v Arsenal Ladies at Woking FC. I have for the past couple of weeks been travelling north out of Norfolk to watch a game, it was time to head south so I headed down the A10 towards Woking to see the all London club clash.

     A mouth watering tie, Arsenal Ladies are the current holders of the Women's FA Cup, and would not be willing to give it up without a fight, had beaten Birmingham City Ladies 2-1 in the previous round to book their semi-final spot. For Chelsea Ladies the runners-up in 2012 this represented an early chance to lay down a marker in the season having signed a host of experienced players over the winter, they had beaten Manchester City to reach the semi-finals.

    The venue Woking FC a neutral ground although favouring Chelsea in distance slightly as per the draw format in the previous round. One large stand behind one of the goals makes it easy to find has a smaller stand behind the dugouts and a covered terrance at the other end. Good refreshments on offer too. The weather having been threatening to be wet was thankfully bright with clouds all around a stiff breeze blowing into the ground from an exposed corner.

     Chelsea Ladies starting XI - Marie Hourihan, Danielle Buet, Gilly Flaherty, Laura Bassett, Hannah Blundell, Laura Coombs, Katie Chapman (C), Ji So-Yun, Jackie Groenen, Yuki Ogimi, & Eniola Aluko

    Arsenal Ladies starting XI - Siobhan Chamberlain, Alex Scott, Casey Stoney, Leah Willianson, Emma Mitchell, Jade Bailey, Yukari Kinga, Kelly Smith (C), Shinobu Ohno, Freda Ayisi, & Danielle Carter.

    It's Arsenal to get the semi-final under way taking kick off in their red and white kit against Chelsea likewise lined up in blue. Barely a minute into the match Chelsea have the ball in the back of the net the ball fed into Ji So-Yun the Korean her back to goal lays it off to her left into the path of Japanese striker Yuki Ogimi, she is in on goal and slots it under the onrushing Arsenal goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain... the goal however doesn't stand as the linesmans flag was raised, offside.

    So-Yun and Ogimi are linking up well for Chelsea early on putting some good moves together, So-Yun in particular is finding good space out wide to put in crosses, Arsenal are dealing with the danger coming in but pressed back in their own half.

    Arsenal start to come back into the match their own japanese stars Yukari Kinga and Shinubo Ohno linking up well, Kinga in midfield, Ohno looking to play out on the left and drive into the box. One break sees the ball played to Freda Ayisi the young Arsenal attacker looking to power her way into the box has a shot however Chelsea defender Gilly Flaherty puts herself in harms way and blocks the effort.

    Arsenal's attacking players are constantly switching position's going to the right or left. This time Danielle Carter has the ball at her feet coming into the box from the left has Gilly Flaherty for company the two shoulder to shoulder Carter does well to get a shot away under challenge the ball though rolls across the six yard line and wide of the far post.

    Laura Bassett to is putting her body in the way of any Arsenal effort, this one a driving run from Kelly Smith from the centre. Arsenal are looking a real threat going forwards putting Chelsea under pressure now force a mistake from Bassett a poor clearance that comes to Carter on the left, drives into the box and shoots this one wide of the post once again but alot closer.

     Eniola Aluko has been working hard for Chelsea up top looking to make runs and be available to receive in the centre is given the ball beats her marker and has a run at goal Chamberlain though is very quick out of her box to clear the danger. Moments later Aluko has an effort out wide right on the 18 yard line this time Chamberlain is there to claim the catch.

   Freda Ayisi wins a challenge on the left is through with the ball for a run into the box but has lost a boot in the process, just as she is about to pull the trigger her standing foot (now minus studs) gives way and she slips, Chelsea clear.

    Penalty! Arsenal win a penalty, attacking in numbers around Chelsea's box the ball comes to Carter she tries to lay it into the path of Ohno in the centre, Chelsea goalkeeper Marie Hourihan is down quickly to smother the ball even as Freda Ayisi comes charging in, goes down falling over Hourihan and the referee gives a penalty, looked a little harsh, thought Hourihan had the ball under control. Nevertheless Kelly Smith steps up to take looks to put it to Hourihan's right the keeper guesses right and makes the save.

                             Half-time Chelsea Ladies 0-0 Arsenal Ladies

   To be fair even with a 0-0 scoreline that was an entertaining 1st half, however that was just the appetiser for what was to follow as Chelsea kicked off the 2nd half. Had made a change taking off Jackie Groenen and bringing on Rachel Williams looking to be more of a threat to Arsenal's defence. It was Arsenal though that started the stronger. A cross from the right by Ohno is cleared by Chelsea straight into the feet of full back Emma Mitchell who has a crack from 35 yards out the ball swerving away from the goal, wide.

    Rachel Williams goes down after being fouled in the centre and has to come of for lengthy treatment, not the start Chelsea wanted. Aluko has a strong run down the left flank plays the ball across the 18 yard box for So-Yun to receive she is fouled right on the line. It is the Korean to take deceives Chamberlain by pulling the wide of the wall the attempt though goes narrowly wide.

     Aluko does well to run down a ball going out for a goal kick to Arsenal inside the box unchallenge plays it back to So-Yun just inside the box, she shifts her feet well and powers the ball past a helpless Chamberlain, 1-0

     Arsenal make a chance Rachel Yankey on, Freda Ayisi off. Arsenal attack from the kick off Carter powers down the right attempts to put the ball into the box, cross or shot it finds the head of Kelly Smith rising at the near post and loops up and over Hourihan into the back of the net barely a minute between goals 1-1.

     Smith has another great chance minutes later a rasping long range effort that has Hourihan beaten the keeper falling the ball cannons off the cross bar and down Hourihan claims the ball at the 2nd attempt.

    Chelsea have a free kick out on the left level with the penalty box the effort floated in is caught by the wind dropping into Chamberlains arms before it can reach the far post. Aluko with another strong run down the right surges into the box unleashes a shot, Chamberlain gets her gloves to it but only manages to parry it into the path of Yuki Ogimi who is on hand to place the ball into the back of the net to restore Chelsea's lead 2-1.

    Could Chelsea hold onto their lead this time. NO. It's Kelly Smith again this time with a long range wonder strike that arrows towards goal, Hourihan can't get to it as it sails over her just under the bar to bring Arsenal's 2nd equaliser 2-2.

   Katie Chapman has a pop for outside the box it is heading wide at the near post Chamberlain puts it behind for a corner. Arsenal clear the danger the full-time whislte blows and we are heading for extra time.

                            Full-time Chelsea Ladies 2-2 Arsenal Ladies

   Can a game that has already been so entertaining have any more to offer as we head to 30 extra minutes, will there be MORE goals or will it go to the dreaded penatly shoot out? It's Chelsea who get extra time under way.

    Arsenal win a corner taken from the left by Yankey, Leah Williamson up for the set piece heads the ball down into the danger area it is half cleared comes out to Smith she let's loose a strike on goal it's going in takes a deflection off Carter leaving Hourihan stranded, Chelsea call for offside but the goal stands 2-3.

    At the other end a good run from Aluko sees her cross land on the roof of the net, midfielder Laura Coombs has a strike from 20 odd yards out that goes wide of the mark.

    Smith lays the ball into the path of Ohno as she breaks into the box is driven a little too far wide before unleashing a shot goes through the legs of the on rushing Hourihan but safely wide of goal.

    Carter receives the ball from a quickly taken Smith free kick out on the left she puts in a high cross, Ohno is on hand in the centre of the six yard box to put the ball into the net and extend Arsenals lead 2-4.

    Chelsea need a response, get it through Aluko the striker runnig with the ball across the 18 yard box does well to beat her marker get a shot away, Chamberlain doesn't move it arrows in perfectly to make the score at the end of the 1st period of extra time 3-4.

    Arsenal get the final 15 mins under way Emma Wilhelmsson has come on for Hannah Blundell for Chelsea, they need to press for a goal. It's Arsenal that break however Ohno with a run and shot at the near post that Hourihan does well to push behind for a corner.

    The corner comes in from the left towards the far post, there is Casey Stoney to head the ball into the goal to make the scoreline 3-5.

    Aluko gets in a cross to the far post that Williams tries to head back across Arsenal though scramble it away. Chelsea shouts for hand ball as a shot comes in an strikes Ohno. Jodie Brett comes on for Chelsea to replace So-Yun. Stoney has picked up a knock and is replaced by Anouk Hoogendijk. In the closing minutes Christie Murray comes on for Ohno. It is Arsenal with the last effort a Smith effort tipped over the bar for a corner. Final whistle 3-5 to Arsenal.

     Congratulations to Arsenal Ladies on their victory reaching another Women's FA Cup Final a highly entertaining game a pleasure to watch Chelsea played their part and will be hugely disappointed.

    Arsenal will meet Everton Ladies in the final on the 1st of June in Milton Keynes after they secured a 2-1 victory over Notts County Ladies in their semi-final match. Looking forwards to the final already, see you there.