Chelsea 3-2 Man City: Blues retain FA Cup and complete Double after Sam Kerr's extra-time winner

Chelsea 3-2 Man City: Blues retain FA Cup and complete Double after Sam Kerr's extra-time winner

Chelsea defended their Women's FA Cup crown and completed the Double in dramatic fashion as Sam Kerr scored the winner against Manchester City in extra time in front of a record crowd at Wembley Stadium.

Kerr, who put Chelsea 1-0 up in the first half, kept her cool to slide in a deflected winner after City had twice come from behind.

Emma Hayes' side, who won a third successive Women's Super League title last weekend, were 2-1 up in normal time before substitute Hayley Raso netted an 89th-minute equaliser.

That came after Erin Cuthbert's stunning strike had put Chelsea in front, following Lauren Hemp's curler for City on the stroke of half-time.

City had several chances throughout the match - Hemp was denied by goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, Laura Coombs fired inches over the bar, while Caroline Weir and Georgia Stanway had efforts deflected wide.

Chelsea's resilience and determination to put bodies on the line was crucial in their victory as Jess Carter's sliding intervention stopped Ellen White from scoring for City in extra time before Kerr's decisive goal.

The Blues, who have now won this competition four times under Hayes, celebrated completing the domestic Double in front of a crowd of 49,094 - the highest in Women's FA Cup history.

It is their second piece of silverware in seven days and is the perfect send-off for departing trio Ji So-yun, Drew Spence and Jonna Andersson, who have all played their role in Chelsea's success this season.

Kerr the difference again

_124756409_gettyimages-1397362524.jpgChelsea have won two domestic trophies in seven days

It was a tight encounter at Wembley between two sides who have developed a strong rivalry in the WSL, but until this season had not met in a domestic cup final.

Gareth Taylor's side beat Chelsea to silverware in March when they won the League Cup after coming from behind, and they threatened to do the same again.

Moments of quality in normal time kept the teams level - Kerr headed in Millie Bright's deep cross for the opener, Hemp cut inside before curling in an equaliser, Cuthbert struck home off the underside of the crossbar, before Raso's smart run in behind made it 2-2 with minutes remaining.

But it was a swift counter-attack - and Kerr's unwavering form in front of goal - which proved the difference.

Kerr and Jessie Fleming were both through on goal with only Alanna Kennedy back for City, and despite the defender's best efforts she could do nothing to stop the shot nestling into the bottom corner.

City will be disappointed as they had plenty of chances at Wembley, but Kerr has now scored in Chelsea's past three domestic cup finals and once again will dominate the headlines.

Chelsea's players fell to the ground at full-time after a gruelling 120 minutes, while manager Hayes punched the air on the sidelines - the Blues' dominance of English football continues.

'The best FA Cup final I have witnessed' - analysis

Former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis on BBC One:

Every player was willing to do anything and everything to get their team over the line.

Everything that epitomises women's football at this moment in time was on display this afternoon. That is the best FA Cup final I have ever watched.

What an epic encounter - not one team ever lying down. Both were going toe-to-toe right to the very end. Every bit of energy has been spent between those two teams.

England and Everton midfielder Izzy Christiansen on BBC One:

The athleticism and hunger and desire, the desire to put yourself on the line and do anything you can for your team.

The job Sam Kerr does off the ball for the team is remarkable. To have someone like that in your team is amazing.

Player of the match

KerrSam Kerr

Chelsea Women

Squad number20Player nameKerr

Squad number22Player nameCuthbert

Squad number23Player nameHarder

Squad number17Player nameFleming

Squad number4Player nameBright

Squad number11Player nameReiten

Squad number10Player nameJi So-Yun

Squad number16Player nameEriksson

Squad number7Player nameCarter

Squad number9Player nameEngland

Squad number21Player nameCharles

Squad number5Player nameIngle

Squad number3Player nameNouwen

Squad number18Player nameMjelde

Squad number30Player nameBerger

Squad number25Player nameAndersson

Manchester City Women

Squad number15Player nameHemp

Squad number19Player nameWeir

Squad number13Player nameRaso

Squad number21Player nameShaw

Squad number5Player nameGreenwood

Squad number24Player nameWalsh

Squad number10Player nameStanway

Squad number20Player nameBronze

Squad number9Player nameKelly

Squad number18Player nameWhite

Squad number33Player nameKennedy

Squad number41Player nameBlakstad

Squad number7Player nameCoombs

Squad number3Player nameStokes

Squad number26Player nameRoebuck

Squad number17Player nameVicky Losada

Line-ups

Chelsea Women

Formation 3-4-3

30Berger

4Bright3Nouwen16Eriksson

7Carter5Ingle22Cuthbert11Reiten

9England20Kerr23Harder

30Berger4Bright3NouwenSubstituted forCharlesat 69'minutes16Eriksson7CarterBooked at 81mins5Ingle22Cuthbert11ReitenSubstituted forAnderssonat 90'minutes9EnglandSubstituted forJiat 69'minutesSubstituted forMjeldeat 119'minutes20Kerr23HarderSubstituted forFlemingat 80'minutes

Substitutes

1Musovic10Ji14Kirby17Fleming18Mjelde19James21Charles24Spence25Andersson

Man City Women

Formation 4-3-3

26Roebuck

20Bronze33Kennedy5Greenwood3Stokes

10Stanway24Walsh19Weir

9Kelly21Shaw15Hemp

26Roebuck20BronzeBooked at 54mins33KennedyBooked at 31mins5Greenwood3StokesSubstituted forBlakstadat 83'minutes10StanwaySubstituted forCoombsat 80'minutes24WalshSubstituted forLosadaat 119'minutes19Weir9KellySubstituted forRasoat 76'minutes21ShawSubstituted forWhiteat 80'minutes15Hemp

Substitutes

7Coombs12Angeldahl13Raso16Park17Losada18White30Mace35Keating41BlakstadReferee:Kirsty DowleAttendance:49,094

Live Text

Match ends, Chelsea Women 3, Manchester City Women 2.

Second Half Extra Time ends, Chelsea Women 3, Manchester City Women 2.

Foul by Alex Greenwood (Manchester City Women).

Sam Kerr (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Jessie Fleming.

Caroline Weir (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Maren Mjelde (Chelsea Women).

Substitution, Manchester City Women. Vicky Losada replaces Keira Walsh.

Substitution, Chelsea Women. Maren Mjelde replaces Ji So-Yun.

Attempt missed. Caroline Weir (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

Hayley Raso (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Jessie Fleming (Chelsea Women).

Lucy Bronze (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Jonna Andersson (Chelsea Women).

Hayley Raso (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea Women).

Attempt blocked. Sam Kerr (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Attempt saved. Sam Kerr (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jonna Andersson with a cross.

Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Alex Greenwood.

Attempt missed. Laura Coombs (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.

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