Naomi Girma picked a perfect time to score her first Chelsea goal on Sunday, with her finish in extra time allowing the Blues to secure a dramatic 2-1 win over Manchester United and put themselves into the FA Cup quarter-finals. It looked like Sam Kerr's late second half strike was going to be the difference for Sonia Bompastor's side in a tightly contested clash but Simi Awujo's quick-fire response prolonged the tie, paving the way for Girma to be the hero.
After some difficult results and underwhelming performances in recent weeks, Chelsea looked much better here, controlling the game and creating plenty of chances. Oftentimes, they were only denied the lead because of great goalkeeping from Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who repelled troubling efforts from all of Alyssa Thompson, Erin Cuthbert and Lauren James in the first half. And when the American was seemingly beaten, after the ball had bounced around in the box following a corner, Dominique Janssen was there to clear off the line.
Having kept the Blues at bay, United grew into things in the second period and looked the more likely to score for a good spell, the highlight of which saw Jess Park, who blazed a good chance over the bar in the first half, smash a fierce strike against the frame of Hannah Hampton's goal. Lisa Naalsund's effort deflected just wide before that, while Melvine Malard just couldn't quite get on top of a nice knockdown from Ellen Wangerheim, firing her half volley well off target.
Just as the tie seemed destined for extra time, Kerr appeared to come to Chelsea's rescue, scoring her ninth goal in 10 appearances against United with an excellent finish just 12 minutes from time. But the Blues could only hold onto that lead for a couple of minutes, as Awujo replied with a clever effort of her own to steer the game back on course for that additional period. However, it only delayed the inevitable, with it taking only nine minutes for Girma to prod home and score the third goal of the game from a set piece, after Tullis-Joyce had initially made another outstanding save to deny Veerle Buurman. It keeps the Blues' FA Cup title defence well and truly alive, with Bompastor and her side to find out their quarter-final opponents on Monday.
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