Aggie Beever-Jones scored in the 94th minute as Chelsea came from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 and reach the Women’s FA Cup final.
The striker rose above the Liverpool defence to meet Sandy Baltimore’s cross and send Sonia Bompastor’s side to Wembley.
Smith punishes Chelsea’s slow start
Bompastor made six changes after Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with West Ham, bringing Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh and Baltimore back into the side. Liverpool interim coach Amber Whiteley changed three players.
Chelsea controlled possession but fell behind after 21 minutes. Marie Höbinger released Olivia Smith down the right, and the forward cut inside before beating Hannah Hampton.
The hosts levelled two minutes into first-half stoppage time. Mayra Ramírez kept Baltimore’s pull-back alive, and Erin Cuthbert’s effort went in off the post despite a touch from goalkeeper Rachael Laws.
Beever-Jones keeps pushing for the winner
Beever-Jones carried Chelsea’s threat after the break. Gemma Bonner blocked one run, Laws denied her from close range and another shot flew over the bar after she turned inside the area.
Liverpool then went within inches of winning it. Taylor Hinds sent a looping cross onto the crossbar, and Chelsea scrambled the loose ball off the line.
Header in stoppage time settles the semi-final
With extra time approaching, Baltimore found space on the left and delivered into the box. Beever-Jones attacked the cross and headed over Laws for the winner.
It was her second major moment in four days after scoring her first England goal earlier that week.
“Crazy, I don’t think it’s hit me yet,” Beever-Jones told Chelsea. “We trusted the game plan and, to be honest, we could have probably put the game to bed a little bit earlier, but that’s the Chelsea way: we never give up until final whistle.”
Bompastor rewards Beever-Jones’s patience
Beever-Jones had scored nine Women’s Super League goals that season, more than any Chelsea team-mate, despite not starting every match.
Bompastor said the forward had sometimes been frustrated by her role but praised the way she responded. “I think Aggie has the right mentality,” the Chelsea coach said. “She has the right mindset.”
Whiteley was proud of Liverpool’s performance despite the late defeat. “We spoke before the game about having no regret and giving absolutely everything,” she told the BBC. “We absolutely did that.”
The victory kept Chelsea’s pursuit of four trophies alive and secured their place in the Wembley final on 18 May.
