Chelsea draw Arsenal in Women’s FA Cup
From the official Chelsea FC website:
Chelsea Women will welcome Arsenal in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup fifth round, after the draw was conducted on Monday evening.
The Blues, who have won the FA Cup four times during Emma Hayes’s decade of service, overcame Liverpool 3-2 at Kingsmeadow on Sunday lunchtime to secure our passage into the fifth round of the competition we won last season.
Matt Beard’s side proved a tough test on home soil, but Sam Kerr’s hat-trick helped us into the hat for the next round. There was further cause for celebration as midfielder Melanie Leupolz returned to action for the first time since coming back from maternity leave.
As ball number eight, we were pulled out of the hat near the end of the draw, and we have been handed a home tie against London rivals Arsenal at Kingsmeadow.
We defeated the Gunners in the semi-final of last season’s competition en route to lifting the trophy, with goals from Guro Reiten and Ji securing victory.
This campaign’s WSL meeting with Jonas Eidevall’s side ended in a 1-1 draw earlier this month, with Sam Kerr netting a late equaliser.
We are the current holders of this cup having defeated Manchester City in last season’s final at Wembley. Two goals from Kerr and an Erin Cuthbert stunner settled a thrilling 3-2 encounter seeing us get our hands on the famous trophy under the Wembley arch.
The Vitality Women’s FA Cup fifth round ties are set to be played the last weekend in February. An official date and kick-off time for our fixture against the Gunnerswill be announced in due course.
Draw in full
Charlton v Birmingham
Manchester United v Durham
West Ham v Aston Villa
Lewes v Cardiff
Tottenham v Reading
Chelsea v Arsenal
Brighton v Coventry United
Bristol City v Manchester City
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