Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.35 2021-22

Chelsea complete the double

Chelsea 3 (Kerr 32,98, Cuthbert 62)
Manchester City 2 (Hemp 41, Raso 88)
att 49,094; at Wembley Stadium
Chelsea kept hold of the Vitality Women's FA
Cup after narrowly getting the better of
Manchester City after extra time in a well
contested Final in front of a record crowd at
Wembley Stadium.
A deflected shot from Sam Kerr in the
extra period proved to be decisive after a
superbly taken goal late on by substitute Hayley
Raso had brought City level.
The first opportunity of the game fell
Manchester City's way, Lauren Hemp making a strong run down the left and her cross
was deflected into the path of Caroline Weir who swept her shot over from ten yards.
Two minutes later and another chance came for City, Hemp finding space in the area
before her shot was blocked by Millie Bright, the rebound falling for Georgia Stanway
whose effort was also charged down.
Chelsea did get the ball in the net on seventeen minutes when Sam Kerr rounded
Ellie Roebuck to slot home, but an offside flag had already gone up as she went through.
The early pace of the game then brought a lull but just after the half hour, Chelsea
broke the deadlock albeit in fortuitious circumstances. Bright floated in a cross from the
right which deceived Roebuck and went in off the far post, although Kerr may well have
got a touch on its way in.
City's passing out from the back was not looking overly convincing as Chelsea
pressed them more and a minute after the goal, it could have been two as they lost
possession and Roebuck's deflected clearance was seized on by Guro Reiten who
returned the ball goalwards but over the bar.
City rode out the storm and hit back in devastating fashion as half time
approached. Shaw intially did well to hold the ball up and turn before finding Hemp on
the left, where she cut inside Bright before planting her shot inside the far post for the
equaliser.
Suddenly City tails were up and Stanway had a shot blocked by Carter following a
good run and the rebound was deflected wide.
As in the first half, the first real opportunity of the second went the way of City,
although Kelly's initial cross was too powerful for Shaw to head goalwards, Kelly was
able to gather and return to the far post, where Hemp's shot was blocked by the legs of
Berger.
It had been a good start to the second half for City, as they continued to utilise the
pace of their front three, but Chelsea began to look dangerous themselves again and
went back in front just after the hour. A poor goal kick by Roebuck was initially seized
upon by Cuthbert and Reiten's low cross was touched off by Beth England for Cuthbert
to fire a 20-yard in off the underside of the bar.
City brought on Hayley Raso in search of extra attacking impetus but moments
later, a counter attack from Chelsea saw Pernille Harder break down the right and cross
for Kerr who missed her kick, the ball rolling loose for Reiten who curled her shot wide.
Issue no. 35 - 19 May 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk