Sam Kerr scored the only goal to lead Chelsea Women to a 1-0 win over Manchester United to win the 2022-23 Women’s FA Cup, Sportivationng.com reports.
Leah Galton gave Manchester United an early lead inside the first 20 seconds before her effort was ruled out for offside.
Manchester United were the better side in the first half, but both sides were unable to break the deadlock in the first half.
Emma Hayes brought on Sophie Ingle and Pernille Harder before the hour mark to inject life into the Chelsea team.
Harder make an immediate by setting up Sam Kerr for the goal in the 68th minute.
Sam Kerr brings out the backflip in front of a sold out Wembley! 🤩
You just knew it was coming. 🔥pic.twitter.com/arn5gFUweJ
— London Is Blue Podcast ⭐️⭐️ (@LondonBluePod) May 14, 2023
Sam Kerr has now scored in SIX consecutive domestic cup finals:
⚽️⚽️⚽️ 20/21 WSL Cup
⚽️⚽️ 20/21 FA Cup
⚽️ 21/22 WSL Cup
⚽️⚽️ 21/22 FA Cup
⚽️ 22/23 WSL Cup
⚽️ 22/23 FA Cup#WomensFACup pic.twitter.com/VelkirVeky— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) May 14, 2023
Sophie Ingle missed a glorious chance to increase Chelsea’s lead with 10 minutes to go.
SAM KERR;
🔹5 goals at Wembley
🔹Only player to score in 3 consecutive FA Cup finals
🔹Only player to score in 6 consecutive domestic Cup finals (Conti Cup + FA Cup)
🔹8 goals in 8 matches vs Manchester United
🔹BIG GAME PLAYER! #CFCW pic.twitter.com/67JLrUnRET— Chelsea Women Daily (@CFCWdaily) May 14, 2023
Chelsea have now won the Women’s FA Cup for the third consecutive season.
The Blues are also on course for a domestic double, they are one point behind Manchester United in the WSL title race with a game in hand.
Emma Hayes has now won the FA Cup 5 times, the most of any manager in the history of the WSL.
She has only lost once at Wembley as Chelsea’s manager.
She won the trophy in 2015,
17/18, 20/21, 21/22,
22/23.
YOU KNOW THE DRILL! 🎶#WomensFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/LugsdjXkWX
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 14, 2023
She has also led Chelsea to 12 major trophies in 11 years.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was delighted to win another trophy at Wembley.
“We’ve played here more times that Stamford Bridge. Yes it’s home.
“You can’t underestimate the game accumulation, we looked so tired in the first half. We had to kick each other at half time.
“We know how to stay in a game and even if we weren’t at our best we have to work out how to change it. We had to possess the ball better and then find the quality in the final third.
THE MOMENT! 🏆#WomensFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/gtuMwWUC7h
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 14, 2023
“It’s a coaches nightmare. We don’t do the kick off properly and then the first, second and third phases were all off.
“I’ve got to get them home tonight. They know the bus is leaving at 9pm and it will leave with them all on. The players deserve credit.
Hayes also reserved special praise for ‘priceless’ Sam Kerr.
“Sam Kerr is priceless but let’s credit Pernille [Harder]. We know we needed more stretching runs. I almost made the change at half time but I held off to see who might be tired.”
