Chasing a trophy the Blues last won three seasons ago, a much-changed side never looked in danger in the second of four consecutive games at Kingsmeadow. Nusken’s fifth and sixth goals of the season came before half-time and Beever-Jones’s flew in immediately after it, to quash any lingering hopes the visitors from the North-East may have had of staging a comeback.

Kirby’s goalscorer’s instinct made it 4-0 inside the final 10 minutes and 5-0 in added time, both close-range finishes.

This was the first meeting between these two sides in six years. The last time was in the WSL; now it was the knife-edge of cup-tie football as Chelsea entered the competition at the quarter-final stage. Sunderland had come through a group stage and were one of two Championship sides to make it to the knockout rounds.

Emma Hayes used the full depth in her squad for this encounter, naming an entirely different starting 11 from the weekend league win over Everton. It included Maika Hamano for her second appearance and first start since a long injury lay-off. The Japanese international operated wide on the left.

Start then a stop

Centre-forward Mia Fishel headed over from an Beever-Jones cross in the opening minutes. The pressure stayed on with shots from Kirby, Beever-Jones and Perisset before an unusual break in play with 11 minutes on the clock. That was because one of assistant referees went down with a problem. Thankfully, after lengthy treatment, she was able to walk unaided around the pitch and down the tunnel with what appeared to be an injured arm.

After the restart, there was a momentary threat from Sunderland when after a half-cleared corner, Grace McCatty looped a header onto the roof of the net. That would be their only half-chance of the opening 45 minutes.

The next opening was Chelsea’s and it was the best of the game so far. Jelena Cankovic, pulling strings throughout the game, lifted a pass into the path of unmarked Kirby who shot narrowly wide. Our Serbian midfielder then teed up Fishel who cleared the bar by mere inches.

With 28 minutes gone, it was a member of tonight’s defence who broke the deadlock. Kirby popped up on the right and curled over a cross so well-placed the goal was practically unmissable. The advanced Nusken headed home.

Sjoeke doubles up

Beever-Jones had seen plenty of the ball out on the right and had mostly used it to supply team-mates. As half-time approached however, she fired a rocket at goal that was tipped over by a good save. From the near-post corner that followed, Nusken established the 2-0 half-time lead with a glancing header.

The second half was not even a minute old when Beever-Jones succeed where she had come so close before the interval. Advancing into space, the 20-year-old unleashed another blistering drive that this time the keeper could not touch. It cannoned in off the inside of the post for 3-0 and her seventh goal of the season – to put Chelsea well in control.

Sunderland’s Jenna Dear did force a save out of Zecira Musovic and the Wearsiders largely held their shape despite the deficit, but Chelsea occasionally threatened more goals through Hamano, after a penetrating run, and Beever-Jones with a header.

It was left to Kirby, who also netted in the 2018 meeting with Sunderland, to end the night’s scoring when she prodded in Hamano’s ball across the danger zone after some slick build-up play, and then headed home a Cankovic cross from a similar spot.

What it means

The Blues go into a last-four draw with Man City and Aston Villa, plus the winner of the postponed London City Lionesses versus Arsenal tie. The semi-finals take place on 6 and 7 March.

What’s next?

The cup-ties keep coming with Chelsea back at Kingsmeadow on Sunday for a game against another Championship club, Crystal Palace, in the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup. Kick-off is 2pm and tickets are on general sale

Chelsea Musovic; Nusken, Mjelde, Buchanan, Perisset; Ingle (c); Beever-Jones, Kirby, Cankovic, Hamano; Fishel.

Unused subs Hampton, Lawrence, Carter, Charles, Cuthbert, Reiten, Rytting-Kaneryd, James, Ramirez.

Scorers Nusken 28, 44, Beever-Jones 46, Kirby 83, 90+1

Booked Hamano 68

Sunderland Moan; Brown, Goddard, Westrup (c), McCatty, Ede (McAteer 58), Fenton (Jones 77), Rouse (McInnes 90), Dear, Scarr, Ejupi (Watson 90).

Unused subs Borthwick, Corbyn, West, Boothroyd.

Booked Fenton 63

Referee Phoebe Cross