Chelsea assistant manager Paul Green says his team have their sight firmly set on retaining the SSE Women’s FA Cup after reaching the last four with a 6-0 defeat of Aston Villa.
Drew Spence’s 39th-minute goal was all that separated the sides at the interval.
But a hat-trick from Ji So-Yun, plus strikes from England international pair Fran Kirby and Eniola Aluko saw the FA Women’s Super League 2 team well beaten.
Chelsea 6-0 Aston Villa
SSE Women's FA Cup
Quarter Final
Sunday 3 April
Staines Town FC
by Ryan Lewis
And Green said: “We want to go back to Wembley, we want to defend our title and we want to defend The FA Cup.
“We’ll see who comes out in the next round and put in a good performance in that and hopefully that will be enough to put us through to The Final.
“We’re a confident group and they know that if they play like that over long periods of time, the chances will come and it’s about taking those chances when they do arrive.
“Individual brilliance we have in abundance in this group and it’s great to see some of the flowing goals that our team scored. That’s what most pleased us as a management group.
“Back to front goals are what pleases us the most as coaches.”
Chelsea hit the woodwork three times in the opening 22 minutes, twice through Ji and Karen Carney before on 39 minutes Spence unleashed an unstoppable half-volley to open the scoring.
On the hour Kirby set up Ji, who tapped in and soon the England international scored herself from 12 yards.
In the final five minutes Ji completed her hat-trick with goals either side of Aluko’s effort and Villa coach Joe Hunt admitted his team were second best.
He said: “We did too much chasing up to half-time and we were lucky to go in just 1-0 behind.
“They had more possession, as we knew they would, and it just told in the end, our legs gave way.
“We came to give it a good go, we knew it would be very difficult and we're proud because we lasted so long against a fantastic team full of great players.
“I think the score-line was ultimately harsh on us for the amount of effort we put into the game.
“To concede the three goals in the last five minutes was down to fitness. Part-time amateurs will find it very hard to beat full-time professionals and internationals and eventually it just told in the end.”
This year’s Final takes place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 14 May and thanks to The FA's partnership with SSE, all children will be able to attend for free.
Adult tickets are priced £15 and group bookings and charter standard discounts are also available.
Tickets for The Final are on sale now via TheFA.com/Tickets or by calling 0844 826 2010.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Rebecca Spencer; Hannah Blundell, Niamh Fahey, Millie Bright, Jade Bailey, Karen Carney, Drew Spence, Bethany England, Ji So-Yun, Gemma Davison, Fran Kirby.
Substitutes: Eniola Aluko for England 62, Katie Chapman for Carney 62, Gilly Flaherty for Fahey 71.
Substitutes not used: Frances Kitching, Alessia Russo.
Goals: Drew Spence 39, Ji So-Yun 61, 86, 89, Fran Kirby 66, Eniola Aluko 88.
Aston Villa (4-3-3): Jess Myers, Hayley Crackle, Elisha N'Dow, Jade Richards, Hannah George, Katy Moran, Sarah Mayling, Alicia Robinson, Katie Wilkinson, Bethan Merrick, Amy West.
Substitutes: Kerrie Walsh for Robinson 46, Destiny Toussaint 46 for West.
Substitutes not used: Chloe Beattie, Natasha Baptiste, Leanne Bryant.
Referee: Garry Maskell
Attendance: 1,147
