Australian Sam Kerr scored her second Women’s FA Cup final goal in extra time to complete Chelsea’s domestic double with a 3-2 victory over Manchester City on Monday morning.
The Australian forward struck from outside of the penalty area in the 99th minute to defend the cup for the west London club in front of a competition record attendance of 49,094 at Wembley Stadium.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be part of this club,” Kerr said moments after the win. “It’s the best club in the world and I’m just so proud.”
The success for Emma Hayes’ side came a week after winning a third consecutive Women’s Super League title.
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After a lack of clear-cut chances, City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck mistimed her jump to try and gather Millie Bright’s long looping ball and Kerr headed in at the far post for Chelsea’s opener in the 33rd minute.
Chelsea conceded its first equalizer in the 42nd when Lauren Hemp got away from Bright and sent her the wrong way before taking a touch and curling into the net.
Chelsea regained the lead after a poor goal-kick from Roebuck went straight to Erin Cuthbert. An exchange of passes led to the ball being fed back to her just outside the area and she struck into the net in the 63rd.
Chelsea was preparing for trophy celebrations until Hayley Raso cleverly beat the Chelsea offside trap and launched onto a well-struck cross from Alex Greenwood before equalising in the 89th.
Kerr sealed the victory in extra time by capitalizing on City being a player down at the back after Alanna Kennedy was taken with cramp. Kerr drove forward and fired the shot that took a massive deflection off Alex Greenwood to Roebuck and go into the back of the net.
“We stopped Man City’s momentum in the way that we pressed but it meant we had to suffer. There was a lot of cramping and groin strains and everything else,” said Hayes, the Chelsea manager.
“To dig it out doesn’t surprise me, I know this team’s going to be the winning team. It’s not always pretty. I think Man City are a top team but I think they underestimated us today. We had a point to prove and I thought we did really well with that.
“This team will go down in history. It’s the best team I’ve coached. We always want to talk about perfection in football but having been on the winning side more often than not, it’s about human endeavour. We have a group of people that don’t want to be on the losing team. They find a way.”
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