Chelsea thrash Sunderland to reach League Cup semis

2 years ago 39

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Chelsea reached the League Cup semi-finals for a seventh consecutive season with a convincing win over Championship side Sunderland at Kingsmeadow.

Sjoeke Nusken opened the scoring for the Blues after 29 minutes, heading in Fran Kirby's cross, and added a second from a corner 15 minutes later.

Straight after the restart Aggie Beever-Jones found the net for the hosts from a tight angle.

And Kirby rounded off the win with two late tap-ins in the closing stages.

Kirby stars as Chelsea show class

Having been exempt from the group stages due to their participation in Europe, Chelsea were playing their first League Cup match since they were beaten 3-1 by Arsenal in last season's final.

Manager Emma Hayes made 11 changes from her side's 3-0 league win over Everton on Sunday, but her team were always a level above Sunderland, currently second in the Championship.

The Black Cats only advanced to the last eight as group winners when their 7-0 loss to Aston Villa in Group A was switched to a home win after Villa fielded an ineligible player.

Kirby starred, and her late double means the England forward has now scored four goals across her past four games in all competitions.

She assisted two of the Blues' goals and almost created another inside the first 20 minutes when she squared the ball to a sliding Maika Hamano, who could only divert an effort off target.

The result means Women's Super League leaders Chelsea remain on course for a domestic treble in Hayes' final season in charge of the Blues.

Her side have finished runners-up in the past two seasons and last lifted the League Cup in 2021.

Sunderland's best chance came early in the first half when defender Grace McCatty headed narrowly over the bar.

Chelsea keeper Zecira Musovic was also forced into a handful of routine saves in the second half.

The two-time winners face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup fifth round in their next match on Sunday. Sunderland are next at home to Lewes in the league on 18 February.

Assistant referee Ceri Williams had to leave the field in the first half to receive medical treatment

Line-ups

Chelsea Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Musovic
6Nüsken
26Buchanan
18Mjelde
15Périsset
5Ingle
28Cankovic
33Beever-JonesBooked at 58mins
14Kirby
23HamanoBooked at 68mins
2Fishel

Substitutes

7Carter
10James
11Reiten
12Lawrence
19Rytting Kaneryd
21Charles
22Cuthbert
24Hampton
35Ramírez

Sunderland Women

Formation 5-4-1

1Moan
11Brown
15Goddard
27Westrup
5McCatty
16EdeSubstituted forMcAteerat 58'minutes
37EjupiSubstituted forWatsonat 89'minutes
14FentonBooked at 63minsSubstituted forJonesat 77'minutes
17RouseSubstituted forMcInnesat 90'minutes
23Dear
8Scarr

Substitutes

9McAteer
18McInnes
20Jones
22Borthwick
25Watson
46Corbyn
49Boothroyd
54West

Live Text

Match ends, Chelsea Women 5, Sunderland Women 0.
Second Half ends, Chelsea Women 5, Sunderland Women 0.
Goal! Chelsea Women 5, Sunderland Women 0. Fran Kirby (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jelena Cankovic with a cross.
Attempt saved. Agnes Beever-Jones (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fran Kirby.
Substitution, Sunderland Women. Libby McInnes replaces Mollie Rouse.
Substitution, Sunderland Women. Katy Watson replaces Elizabeta Ejupi.
Attempt saved. Maika Hamano (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Agnes Beever-Jones.
Goal! Chelsea Women 4, Sunderland Women 0. Fran Kirby (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mia Fishel.
Attempt missed. Mia Fishel (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Maika Hamano with a cross.
Foul by Maren Mjelde (Chelsea Women).
Mary McAteer (Sunderland Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Agnes Beever-Jones (Chelsea Women) header from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jelena Cankovic.
Attempt missed. Jenna Dear (Sunderland Women) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Mollie Rouse.
Substitution, Sunderland Women. Ellen Jones replaces Natasha Fenton.
Hand ball by Maika Hamano (Chelsea Women).
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Emily Scarr.
Foul by Sophie Ingle (Chelsea Women).
Mollie Rouse (Sunderland Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Offside, Chelsea Women. Fran Kirby is caught offside.
Maika Hamano (Chelsea Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.