Veerle Buurman’s stunning late strike saw Chelsea edge past Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 to keep their Adobe Women’s FA Cup defence alive.
Sam Kerr opened the scoring on the 40th minute as Chelsea finally got past Spurs with a thunderbolt of a header.
Tottenham responded after the break thanks to a sumptuous Eveliina Summanen free-kick before Buurman decided the tie with her first Chelsea goal four minutes from time.
Early on, Niamh Charles shut down a Spurs attack and then minutes later created the first clear cut chance for Chelsea as she fed Alyssa Thompson in the box, whose shot was saved down low by Lize Kop.
Kop was down again to deny a beautiful effort from Lauren James, who had worked the ball into a shooting position from a corner.
James kept probing the Tottenham goal, firing just wide and then just high to send several warning shots Spurs’ way.
Eveliina Summanen levels things up for Tottenham Hotspur!
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Defenders traded brilliant blocks, with Toko Koga earning a handshake from Kerr for denying the Australian a shot before Charles sent Bethany England’s effort behind for a Spurs corner.
Signe Gaupset then stung the hands of Hannah Hampton for Tottenham’s first shot on target as she dribbled her way to the outside of the box and unleashed a strike.
After Tottenham had been passing the ball around with patience, they were poached by Charles and Chelsea built into an attack that ended with Kerr heading home a Keira Walsh cross for the opener.
Spurs could not find a way back into the game in the first half, but a moment of magic from Summanen served up the equaliser on 52 minutes.
The Finnish set-piece specialist fizzed the ball in from almost the touchline with Hampton unable to get a hand to it.
Kerr was almost able to immediately restore Chelsea’s lead after the Australian pounced on a poor Amanda Nildén backpass, with Kop tipping the ball behind.
Koga then produced vital goal line clearances before it was Tottenham’s turn to threaten as Nildén fired a shot on target with Hampton only able to bundle for a corner.
Veerle Buurman scores late to grab her first in Chelsea blue! 👏
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