Chelsea Women boss Emma Hayes dedicated their FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup quarter-final victory over Manchester City to the new additions in the squad.
The defending champions came from behind to secure an extra-time 4-2 victory and their first ever win at the Academy Stadium, ending City’s two-and-a-half-year unbeaten record at home.
The Blues took first blood as Melanie Leupolz first put the visitors ahead just before the break, while Chloe Kelly equalised on the other side of half-time.
Lauren Hemp gave City what looked like a winning goal five minutes from time only for Niamh Charles’ stunning effort to send the contest to extra-time.
Guro Reiten put the Blues back in front before Sophie Ingle’s stunner from 25-yards-out sealed the victory.
And Hayes said the depth of her squad was one of the key reasons her side progressed to the final four.
“We stuck with a large starting group from the weekend,” Hayes said.
“I always knew there would be multiple changes throughout the game, I was disappointed to give away two terrible goals.
“But with players like Niamh Charles – the work she does in training to get herself in position she is priming herself for that moment.
“This is a real victory for the new additions to the squad because I thought all of those were outstanding and the depth of the squad is the reason why we’re going through to the next round.”
With a defence of their title still on track, Chelsea will play either West Ham or Durham in the semi-finals of the competition.
The Blues have recorded seven successive victories in all competitions and the festive break has done her side the world of good, according to Hayes.
“I think since we’ve come back from Christmas, we’ve come back a different side,” she added.
“I think we’ve found a couple of little things we’ve brought into the team and made some changes that are really helping us.
“This is a team that does extremely well with adversity. We were 2-1 down with a minute to go and never giving up.
“To go on into extra-time and score two fantastic goals is a real credit. A brilliant team.”
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