Match report: Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham
It was a patient start from the Blues at a sunny Kingsmeadow as we looked for different ways to break the deadlock. Yet just as Tottenham had a couple of chances of their own, we struck the opener when Kerr headed in from a Keira Walsh cross.
After two wins with two clean sheets over Spurs in the Women's Super League, this felt like a game which would follow a similar pattern. That was, until Evaliina Summanen drove a free-kick beyond Hannah Hampton to level the scores just after the break.
The Blues went close with several chances throughout the second half, but our opponents were resolute in their defending. If our first was netted by one of the most experienced goal scorers in the women's game, the second was converted four minutes from time by the opposite - 19-year-old defender Buurman.
It was her first for Chelsea, but it couldn't have been more crucial, as the strike confirmed our place in the semi-finals. Our Women's FA Cup journey continues.
Seeking the opener
Bompastor made two alterations from the side which faced Arsenal at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday, bringing Kadeisha Buchanan and Naomi Girma into the back line in place of Lucy Bronze and Buurman.
The Blues began with some high-tempo play, and after five minutes of action, Alyssa Thompson went close with a near-post shot that was just about gathered by Spurs 'keeper Lize Kop.
And having scored in each of our previous two encounters with Tottenham this season, Walsh took a shot from inside the box with 10 minutes gone, but Kop got down quickly to her right to palm the attempt around the post.
With form on her side, Lauren James tested the water with a series of shots in the first half-an-hour, feeling her way for an opening. The scores remained goalless, but Chelsea had enjoyed 65 per cent of the play over our London rivals.
Trading chances
That was no reason to rest on our laurels. Bethany England suddenly broke through down the middle and would've been one-on-one with Hampton, had it not been for a last-ditch tackle in the box from Niamh Charles.
Just after Charles couldn't pick out Kerr on a fast break up the pitch, Spurs hit back on the break, and Signe Gaupset unleashed a powerful drive towards goal, forcing Hampton to pull off an excellent save to tip the attempt over the bar.
A goal apiece
Five minutes before half-time, Chelsea took the lead. Walsh drove to the by-line and lifted her cross across the face of goal, as Kerr leaped highest and steered her header off the inside of the post and into the back of the net.
It felt like we were in firm control of the match as we went in at half-time, but Spurs had other ideas when they were awarded a free-kick on the left-hand touchline. Finland international Summanen stepped up to take it and curled her attempt beyond Hampton and into the bottom right-hand corner to level the scores.
Next came a flurry of Blues chances as we looked to regain the advantage. Kerr hit her shot just wide, James' dipping shot from the edge of the area went just over the bar and Thompson had her near-post attempt saved by Kop.
The teams were exchanging chances. As Ellie Carpenter headed wide at the back post, ex-Chelsea striker England took a left-footed shot from range, which Hampton gratefully claimed.
Final stages
With 15 minutes to play, substitute Wieke Kaptein initiated a brilliant flowing move as she laid the ball off to Buchanan at the back before receiving the return pass, driving up the pitch and delivering a long-ball out to the wing for Carpenter.
The Australian drilled her cross into the danger area, but compatriot Kerr could only shoot wide of the post from close range. It was another of the second-half substitutes who took the next shot on goal, as Sandy Baltimore fired an effort from a tight angle at the near post, only for the danger to be extinguished.
Buurman's big moment
Extra time seemed like a distinct possibility. The away side had made things tough all afternoon, even though Chelsea had dominated in terms of chances.
And after the disappointment of seeing her goal disallowed in the first leg of our UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final away at Arsenal, Buurman had her maiden Blues strike for real.
It couldn't have come at a better time, either. Defender Girma advanced the ball forward to Walsh, but the experienced midfielder saw her pass towards Baltimore intercepted.
Buurman won the ball back 25 yards out before unleashing a wonderful left-footed strike from the edge of the penalty area into the top right-hand corner with only four minutes of normal time remaining. With little time left for any Spurs fight-back, the final whistle soon blew, and our place in the semi-finals was sealed. Our defence of the Women's FA Cup continues.
What it means...
We advance to the Women's FA Cup semi-finals on 10 May.
What comes next...
Our players will head off to represent their various national teams as club action takes a pause for the international break, and we will return to a Women's Super League fixture away at Everton on 26 April.
The teams
Chelsea: Hampton, Carpenter, Buchanan, Girma, Charles (Buurman 60), Cuthbert (c), Nusken (Baltimore 72), Walsh, Thompson, Kerr, James (Kaptein 72)
Unused subs: Spencer, Peng, Bronze, Potter, Sarwie
Scorers: Kerr 40, Buurman 86
Tottenham: Kop, Nilden, Gaupset (Ahtinen 89), England (c), Vinberg, Tandberg, Wijk (Morris 71), Spence, Summanen, Koga, Blakstad
Unused subs: Heeps. Grant, Bartrip, Holdt, Rybrink, Nilden, Gunning-Williams,
Scorer: Summanen 52
Booked: Spence 15, Nilden 27, Tandberg 33
