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
69 mins: Ji replaces England. Charles replaces Nouwen. Two fresh faces into the fold for Chelsea.
How long before Gareth Taylor flinches in the Manchester City dugout?
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
68 mins: Still no subs from either side but Ellen White is intensely warming up now. You imagine it is only a matter of time before we see her enter the fray.
Here come the changes for Chelsea...
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
66 mins: Manchester City almost respond instantly! Hemp sends a brilliant cross into the box and as Eriksson clears behind she nearly turns it into her own goal!
The replays show she had a few yards to play with, but initially that looked dangerous!
GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Man City (Cuthbert, 63)
63 mins: AN FA CUP CLASSIC!!!
The ball drops to Erin Cuthbert on the edge of the penalty area. She takes a touch to steady herself and then rifles an absolute beauty into the top corner off the underside of the crossbar!
One of the goals of the season!!
Chelsea 1-1 Man City
62 mins: Reiten clips a decent-looking ball in towards Kerr but Roebuck impressively comes out of her goal to claim above the Australian forward. She receives a round of applause for her efforts - that was a tricky piece of keeping.
Reiten has it again and swings a cross towards the back post but it drifts out of play.
Chelsea 1-1 Man City
60 mins: Still the Chelsea pair of Fleming and Ji are yet to enter the fray as Emma Hayes waits for the perfect time to bring them into the fold.
Shaw drives at the Chelsea defence but Cuthbert gets back brilliantly to slide in and take the ball away from the Manchester City striker.
Chelsea 1-1 Man City
58 mins: Manchester City look like the team more likely to find a breakthrough in this second half. Chelsea are having their moments but can’t seem to find the right pass in the final third.
The game is definitely becoming more open though. There is a winner in this.
Chelsea 1-1 Man City
56 mins: Reiten clips the ball towards Harder at the back post but there’s too much on it and it drifts behind for a goal kick. A waste.
Fleming and Ji are preparing to come on for Chelsea. It will be Ji’s final game for the Blues.
Chelsea 1-1 Man City
54 mins: Another chance for City! Shaw cuts inside and let’s fly and the deflection off Bright’s head almost sees the ball drift inside the near post but it goes narrowly wide.
YELLOW! Now Chelsea come forward and Bronze goes in the book after hauling down Harder midway inside the City half.
Chelsea 1-1 Man City
52 mins: CHANCE! How on earth have Manchester City not taken the lead?
City have two chances in one move. Kelly pulls the ball back for Shaw who can’t direct her header goalwards from six yards out. Kelly then recovers the ball and it eventually finds Hemp but she is denied from close range by a phenomenal Berger save.
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