Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.33 2022-23

Kerr powers Chelsea to
Cup hat-trick

Chelsea 1 (Kerr 68)
Manchester Utd 0
att: 77,390; at Wembley Stadium
Sam Kerr scored the only goal of the game as Chelsea became the first team to win a
hat-trick of FA Cups since Arsenal in 2008 in front of a world record domestic attendance
at Wembley Stadium.
The Australian star, so often the catalyst of Chelsea’s successes in recent seasons,
produced a moment’s opportunism to separate the sides in what was admittedly a fairly
disappointing match between the two teams currently in the top two places in the Barclays
WSL.
Manchester United were playing in their first FA Cup Final and they thought they had
got off to a dream start when Leah Galton scored with just 23 seconds on the clock but they
were brought straight back down to earth when it was ruled out by an offside flag.
Nevertheless, United continued their good start with Toone having a shot blocked
and Nikita Parris firing a shot wide from the edge of the area.
Parris sent a shot straight at Ann-Katrin Berger but Chelsea began to settle down and
produced their first opportunity when captain Magdalena Eriksson headed past the post
from an Eve Perisset cross.
Berger was called into action once again with a smart save from a low driven effort by
Millie Turner and Galton was to go even closer when she hit the post from close range.
Back came Chelsea and it took a good save from Mary Earps to keep out a header from
Lauren James but the first half was to end goalless, with United probably the more
satisfied of the two teams.
Kerr and Alessia Russo both had efforts saved early in the second half and Turner
headed wide following a corner but a double substitution just before the hour by Chelsea,
Pernille Harder and Sophie Ingle coming on, brought fresh impetus to the team.
Harder was immediately into action, producing a shot which was saved by Earps,
whilst Erin Cuthbert drilled an effort just past the post from the edge of the area.
At the midway point of the second half, Chelsea made the breakthrough. Harder
broke down the right and drove a low ball across the face of goal and the predatory Kerr
was on hand to steer the ball into the
empty net from a couple of yards out.
Harder tried her luck but was off
target and Ingle fired over after being
set up by Kerr, as Chelsea sought a
second. United tried to respond, with
Russo drilling wide following good
work by Ona Batlle.
Rachel Williams had a shot
charged down after having been teed
up by Russo and the experienced
striker was to go close again as the Sam Kerr scores the winning goal past Mary Earps.
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