Chelsea vs Man City LIVE: Women’s FA Cup result and final score as Sam Kerr hits extra-time winner
The Australian’s strike deflected in off Alex Greenwood as Emma Hayes landed her 11th piece of silverware with the Blues
Chelsea retained the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday with a 3-2 extra-time win over Manchester City, completing the double this season after winning the Super League title last week.
City had twice equalised, first through Lauren Hemp after Sam Kerr’s opener and, near the end, Hayley Raso cancelled out Erin Cuthbert’s screamer. However, Kerr struck early in the first period of extra time to give Chelsea their fourth FA Cup.
It is the 11th major trophy for Chelsea under Emma Hayes since the Briton took charge in 2012.
The holders opened the scoring around the half-hour mark at a wet Wembley with a header from Australian striker Kerr after a deep cross from Millie Bright. But, they were pegged back by a beautiful finish from City forward Hemp shortly before halftime.
Chelsea midfielder Cuthbert thundered a long-range effort in off the crossbar around the hour mark to retake the lead and that looked like it would be enough to win as the clock ticked down.
However, Gareth Taylor’s City never gave in and in the 89th minute a long cross-field ball from City’s Alex Greenwood was taken down well by Australian Raso who ran at goal and fired in the equaliser to take the game to extra time.
City pressed for a winner but were undone nine minutes into the first period when Kerr picked up the ball in her own half and ran at goal before seeing her shot take a big deflection off Greenwood and trickle in.
Chelsea then kept City at bay to win a second successive FA Cup in front of 49,094 fans, a record attendance for the final beating the previous mark of 45,423 set in 2018.
“I don’t score goals like that but it’s an amazing honour, Cuthbert told the BBC.
“I thought it was going to be a winning goal and it wasn’t, Sam’s was just as important, it took a deflection and it doesn’t matter what the goal looks like as long as it goes in. If they go in like that at Wembley I’m happy.
“So many times this year we have been faced with adversity, COVID, injuries, we’ve had to use the squad. We used the squad today and I’m proud to end it on such a high.”
ET: Chelsea 3-2 Man City
110 mins: Raso takes on Andersson once more. She looks to have gotten the better of the Chelsea defender again but Andersson gets back at her and wins a goal kick for her team.
Fran Kirby looks set to come on in the next few minutes. What a moment that would be.
ET: Chelsea 3-2 Man City
108 mins: Lovely stuff from Kerr! She nutmegs Weir and leaves her looking rather silly. The crowd enjoyed that one.
City have the ball back now though. They have 12 minutes to find their third equaliser of the afternoon.
ET: Chelsea 3-2 Man City
106 mins: Back underway and Bronze is straight on the front foot charging down the right. She cuts it back for Coombs who fires over the top.
Good start to the second period of extra time from Manchester City.
ET: Chelsea 3-2 Man City
Here is what could turn out to be the winning goal.
ET: Chelsea 3-2 Man City
That’s the end of the first period of extra time. Sam Kerr’s deflected effort means Chelsea lead 3-2 heading into the final 15 minutes.
They can almost touch the trophy.
ET: Chelsea 3-2 Man City
105 mins: CHANCE! Manchester City almost level again!
Blakstad fizzes it across the six-yard box, it’s flicked on by White and Raso turns it over from close range!
Another opportunity goes begging for City.
ET: Chelsea 3-2 Man City
104 mins: Manchester City have the ball but right now they’re not doing a great deal with it. Chelsea will be incredibly focused now. They have spurned the lead twice so will be keen to see it out this time around.
Bright thumps the ball into Row Z on the halfway line. Anywhere will do now.
ET: Chelsea 3-2 Man City
102 mins: Do Manchester City have what it takes to come back for a third time in this match?
They have been the better side today but Chelsea have ground it out when it matters most and are now 18 minutes away from lifting the FA Cup trophy.
GOAL! ET: Chelsea 3-2 Man City (Kerr, 99)
99 mins: WHERE HAS THAT COME FROM?!!
Kennedy misses the ball on the halfway line and Chelsea are suddenly away. Kerr charges into the penalty area and her shot deflects off Greenwood and drifts beyond Roebuck!
Is that the winner?
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