Millwall Lionesses bowed out of the Women's FA Cup at the fifth round following a 3-1 defeat by Chelsea - by it took extra time and an almighty battle before The Blues booked their place in the quarter finals.
Having already twice lost to Chelsea this season, The Lionesses were determined to gain revenge and it was the visitors who looked lively from the start, with Ann-Marie Heatherson in particular, proving a real handful.
millwall had the ball in the back of the net early on, but Victoria Boardman's header from a Leah Jones corner was ruled out by referee Kirk English for a foul on goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain.
At the other end Chelsea captain Casey Stoney sent in a testing shot which Claire Lacey tipped over the bar for a corner.
It was Stoney who provided an inch-perfect cross for Drew Spence on 16 minutes, the latter stabbing home from close range to give Chelsea the lead.
Back came Millwall, and when Boardman was fouled on the edge of the box by Kylie Davies, Meghan McKeag sent the resulting free-kick inches wide of the upright.
The Lionesses grabbed a deserved equaliser 10 minutes before the break with a well-worked goal; Leah Jones skipped past a couple of defenders before despatching a low cross that Heatherson slid home.
Manager Aidan Boxall made a change to his side early in the second half introducing Charlotte Gurr for Lauren Phillips. Unfortunately Gurr was stretchered off within moments of entering the fray following an innocuous challenge for the ball with an injury that was later confirmed as a fractured ankle.
Gurr's replacement, Lindsey Morgan, made an instant impact and her pressurising the Chelsea backline saw a loose ball fall to Boardman, whose volley was punched away by the keeper.
Visiting keeper Lacey was called into action soon after as Chelsea bombarded the Millwall goal with Stoney, Emma Whitter, Dunia Susi and Claire Rafferty all denied in quick succession.
The woodwork then came to Millwall's rescue when a corner from Rafferty clipped the top of the bar and bounced away to safety.
At the other end the visitors twice went close; firstly an effort by Heatherson flew wide of the post and then a header from Lindsey Morgan from McKeag's cross was narrowly off-target.
With the game now in extra time it was the home side who finished the stronger of the two teams, scoring twice in the final 12 minutes.
Dunia Susi edged Chelsea 2-1 ahead with a clinical finish before Emma Whitter capitalised on a lack of concentration in defence to complete the scoring in the dying seconds.
Millwall Lionesses now face Charlton Athletic in the semi-final of the London Cup this Sunday 21st February at Beckenham Town's Eden Park with a 1pm kick-off. The winners will face either Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur in the final in April.
Millwall Lionesses: Claire Lacey, Dionne Lennon, Sarah Jones, Sinead Boyer, Meghan McKeag, Lizzie Edwards, Emma Beckett, Victoria Boardman, Leah Jones, Ann-Marie Heatherson, Lauren Phillips (Charlotte Gurr (Lindesy Morgan)) Sub not used: Jordan Butler.