Report: Palace Women bow out of FA Cup at holders Chelsea

Women

17 Jan 2026

Crystal Palace's Adobe Women's FA Cup journey came to end, as they lost 5-0 away at holders Chelsea.

Summary:

Ladd earns her first start for the club, whilst there is a return to the matchday squad for Vanhaevermaet

6: Reiten crosses in a dangerous ball, but the Palace defence manage to deflect it behind for a corner
13: GOAL - Bright nods in from a dangerous Cuthbert free-kick
22: GOAL - Palace giveaway leads to Kerr firing low into the bottom corner
29: GOAL - Reiten scores from the spot after Sharpe was adjudged to have fouled in the box
34: Rytting Kaneryd flashes her effort wide of the left post
45: Good stop from Yañez denies Cuthbert
HT: Chelsea 3 - 0 Palace
51: GOAL - Kerr nods in from a good cross
53: Fancy footwork from Weerden leads to a good strike from Palace's number 11, but Hampton manages to save
70: GOAL - Yañez saves superbly but Thompson converts the rebound
FT: Chelsea 5 - 0 Palace

It was a spirited display against the Blues, but the reigning Women's Super League and Women's FA Cup Champions proved too strong for Jo Potter's side.

Chelsea took the lead in the 13th minute, after Millie Bright headed home from a dangerous Erin Cuthbert free-kick, before Sam Kerr doubled home advantage on 22 minutes.

Seven minutes later and the hosts had a penalty, after Molly-Mae Sharpe was adjudged to have fouled Guro Reiten in the box.

Reiten stepped up and converted her spot-kick, putting Chelsea into a 3-0 lead at the break.

Kerr extended Chelsea's lead just six minutes into the break, nodding into the bottom right corner from Reiten's left side delivery.

Shae Yañez pulled off a super stop to deny Sjoeke Nusken's effort on 70 minutes, but Chelsea's £1m summer signing Alyssa Thompson was on hand to tap home the rebound.

It ended 5-0 in South-West London as Chelsea's WSL quality told in the end.

Jo Potter's side will now turn their focus solely to the Barclays Women's Super League 2, where they take on Durham at home next.

Kicking off at 12:00 GMT at the VBS Community Stadium, you can secure your place by clicking the button below!

Buy Durham tickets here!

Chelsea: Hampton (GK), Bright, Buurman, Curthbert, James (Nusken, 45), Reiten, Thompson, Girma (Bronze,45) Kaptein (Potter, 61) Rytting Kaneyrd, Kerr (Carpenter, 61)

Subs not used: Peng (GK), Spencer (GK), Baltimore, Sarwie, Shooter

Palace: Yañez (GK), Napier, Arthur (Howat, 63) Cato, Everett, Sharpe (Riley, 78), Weerden (Sibley, 90), Nolan, Ladd, Blanchard, Larkin (Hughes, 78)

Subs not used: Annets (GK), Browne (GK), Vanhaevermaet, Brady

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