England strikes twice as Chelsea rout Birmingham to ease into FA Cup semis

20th Mar 2022 | Source: BBC

Magdalena Eriksson's goal was her first since recovering from an ankle injury that kept her out for three months

FA Cup holders Chelsea cruised into the semi-finals of this year's competition by thrashing beleaguered Birmingham.

Magdalena Eriksson broke the visitors' resistance on the brink of half-time, heading home Beth England's knockdown.

Drew Spence swept home a classy second before her brilliant backheel set up England for Chelsea's third.

Niamh Charles' header and England's 20-yarder piled on the misery for the Women's Super League bottom side Birmingham.

Chelsea, who beat Arsenal 3-0 in last season's final, join the Gunners and two other WSL sides, Manchester City and West Ham, in Monday's semi-final draw, live on BBC Sportsday at 18:30 GMT.

Emma Hayes' side, chasing a league and cup double for a second successive season, began slowly as Birmingham's Lucy Quinn saw a half-volley drift just over the bar.

From there, though, it was all Chelsea. Ji So-yun prodded England's square ball wide and Millie Bright crashed against the post from 30 yards before Eriksson's opener.

Spence's first-time finish doubled the lead in the 55th minute, before England scored twice either side of Charles' looping header. Chelsea were denied a sixth goal when Jonna Andersson's late header hit the bar.