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 2-2 Man City
ET: Chelsea 2-2 Man City
96 mins: SO CLOSE! Manchester City almost go in front!
Chelsea are caught sloppily playing it out from the back and Raso pounces. She fires a low cross into the middle and White stretches but can’t quite turn it home inside the six-yard box as Carter gets a touch and it ends up in the arms of Berger.
ET: Chelsea 2-2 Man City
93 mins: City pressing at the start of this first period and nearly get their reward!
Hemp goes down the left-hand side and produces a low cross which is nearly deflected into her own net by Bright!
The momentum is with Manchester City. Chelsea hanging on a little bit at the moment.
ET: Chelsea 2-2 Man City
91 mins: Back underway then.
SUB! Chelsea have made another substitution. Jonna Andersson is on for Guro Reiten.
Chelsea 2-2 Man City
And here is the late equaliser which has kept Manchester City in this FA Cup final.
Chelsea 2-2 Man City
Here is Erin Cuthbert’s absolute stunner that looked for a long time to be the winner.
Chelsea 2-2 Man City
Full-time: Stay where you are, we are getting another 30 minutes.
Erin Cuthbert looked to have won the FA Cup for Chelsea with a wonderful strike shortly after the hour mark.
But substitute Hayley Raso came off the bench to equalise for Manchester City in the 89th minute and send this one to extra time.
What a game.
Chelsea 2-2 Man City
90+2 mins: Manchester City have so many attackers on the pitch now. Chelsea have taken their most creative players off. Could that prove crucial?
CHANCE! City almost open up Chelsea as Hemp whips a dangerous cross in but no one is there to tuck it home!
Chelsea 2-2 Man City
90 mins: Four minutes of stoppage time to be played. Man City are pressing for a winner now!
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