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.”
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
88 mins: City commit players forward but Bronze is caught offside as Raso tries to slide her in. Not long left for City now.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
87 mins: Weir drives into the penalty area and goes for goal but it’s straight down the throat of Berger who gratefully dives on the ball.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
86 mins: Handball by Cuthbert 15 yards inside her own half. City can lump this into the box now. All hands to the pump for Chelsea.
It’s floated into the box and Bronze climbs highest but can only direct her header well wide of the far post.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
84 mins: Manchester City need to throw everything at Chelsea now. They know they can create chances, they just need to produce that final pass and finish.
Chelsea haven’t been at their best this afternoon but they are six minutes plus stoppages away from winning the FA Cup.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
82 mins: SUB! Manchester City make two more changes as Coombs and White come on for Shaw and Stanway.
For Chelsea, Harder departs and is replaced by Fleming.
YELLOW! Carter goes in the book for bringing down Hemp as City looked to break. The dictionary definition of a professional foul.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
80 mins: City come forward now! Shaw nicks the ball away from Carter and then nutmegs her before charging into the area but her cutback is poor! Stanway then tries her luck from distance but it’s always drifting over the top.
They’ve had the opportunities, but City have failed to convert in front of goal.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
78 mins: CHANCE! Chelsea could have put their name on the trophy there.
The WSL champions break as Ji finds Harder. She drives forward into the penalty area before laying it off to Kerr who produces an uncharacteristic air kick! It then falls to Reiten who tries to bend one into the far corner but it’s a yard or so wide.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
76 mins: SUB! Chloe Kelly is off for Hayley Raso as Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor makes his first change.
Meanwhile, the record attendance is read out over the tannoy. 49,094. Superb stuff.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
74 mins: Ji drives through the heart of the City midfield and it takes three sky blue shirts to eventually stop her from charging into the penalty area.
Ingle and Hemp come together when competing for a high ball. Hemp goes down and is receiving treatment.
Do City have anything left with the final quarter of an hour approaching?
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
72 mins: Pinball in the Chelsea box! The WSL champions fail to clear their lines and Stokes’ cross is eventually cleared behind for a corner by Bright.
Just before that, Shaw darted towards the front post as the ball was pulled back behind her. Shaw has led the line superbly today, it just hasn’t quite fallen for her in front of goal.
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