West Ham 0-7 Chelsea: Sam Kerr scores four as Blues reach League Cup final

West Ham 0-7 Chelsea: Sam Kerr scores four as Blues reach League Cup final

Sam Kerr struck four goals in a scintillating display as Chelsea ruthlessly brushed aside West Ham to reach a fourth successive Continental League Cup final.

The Women's Super League leaders, who won the cup in 2020 and 2021, were 3-0 up after just 22 minutes, with Kerr scoring twice, either side of a neat Fran Kirby finish.

West Ham errors contributed to each goal and their generosity continued to hand Kerr her third, with Hawa Cissoko's stumble allowing the Australian to run clear and slot home.

After Lauren James struck a fifth goal, Kerr was again left unmarked to net her fourth before Guro Reiten netted the Blues seventh with a deflected effort.

The Blues, beaten by Manchester City in last season's final, will face Arsenal for the trophy at Selhurst Park on 5 March.

The only concern for Emma Hayes' side was Kirby limping off with an injury in the first half.

In the three seasons prior to this, Chelsea have won seven of the nine major domestic trophies on offer.

That could become 10 from 12 by the end of 2022-23 if all goes to plan, with the Blues top of the WSL, into the fifth round of the FA Cup and now through to a fourth League Cup final. Few would bet against them in this form.

From the very start, the gulf in class between themselves and the Hammers was glaringly apparent, with the Blues quicker on and off the ball and much smarter in their movement and passing.

And in Kerr, Hayes' team have arguably the most ruthless finisher in the women's game.

At the weekend, West Ham did Chelsea a favour by holding title rivals Arsenal to a goalless draw, courtesy of a stubborn and impressive rearguard that drew praise from Hayes.

However, she will not have expected the assistance the Hammers offered to her side on Thursday, with sloppy passes, defensive errors and a welcoming high defensive line allowing the Blues to run riot.

Kerr was left in space to tap in the first from a Reiten free-kick, Kirby had acres of room to run clear for the second, with clumsy play at the back responsible for goals three and four.

Their chance of a first League Cup final gone and their spirit broken, West Ham were picked off with ease after the break by Kerr and company.

It was understandable that Hammers boss Paul Konchesky named an unchanged side from the game with Arsenal, but in hindsight the wisdom of this - after such a huge physical effort four days earlier - can be questioned.

So firmly were West Ham placed on the back foot by their opponents, they were unable to pivot into a meaningful forward-thinking stance at any point.

The closest they came to what would only have been a consolation was a tame shot from Kate Longhurst after Chelsea had failed to properly clear a ball into the box.

They must now ready themselves for another knockout game, this time against Aston Villa in the fifth round of the FA Cup after the international break.

Chelsea will carry a 20-game unbeaten run in all competitions into their own FA Cup tie - a tantalising dress rehearsal for the League Cup final against Arsenal.

Line-ups

West Ham Women

Formation 4-3-3

1Arnold

3Shimizu22Fisk23Cissoko2Smith

4Stringer10Brynjarsdóttir19Hayashi

17Filis26Asseyi8Snerle

1Arnold3Shimizu22Fisk23CissokoSubstituted forLonghurstat 45'minutes2Smith4StringerSubstituted forParkerat 45'minutesSubstituted forDentonat 57'minutes10Brynjarsdóttir19HayashiSubstituted forCookeat 45'minutes17FilisSubstituted forThestrupat 45'minutes26Asseyi8Snerle

Substitutes

7Evans11Atkinson12Longhurst14Thestrup15Parker18Denton21Cooke28Hillyerd33Houssein

Chelsea Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

30Berger

15Périsset4Bright16Eriksson21Charles

5Ingle22Cuthbert

10James14Kirby11Reiten

20Kerr

30Berger15PérissetSubstituted forMjeldeat 61'minutes4Bright16ErikssonBooked at 53mins21Charles5IngleSubstituted forLeupolzat 66'minutes22Cuthbert10JamesSubstituted forRytting Kanerydat 61'minutes14KirbySubstituted forCankovicat 45'minutes11ReitenSubstituted forAbdullinaat 66'minutes20Kerr

Substitutes

1Musovic7Carter8Leupolz17Fleming18Mjelde19Rytting Kaneryd26Buchanan27Abdullina28Cankovic

Live Text

Match ends, West Ham United Women 0, Chelsea Women 7.

Second Half ends, West Ham United Women 0, Chelsea Women 7.

Hand ball by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea Women).

Offside, Chelsea Women. Jelena Cankovic tries a through ball, but Sam Kerr is caught offside.

Attempt missed. Melanie Leupolz (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.

Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Emma Snerle (West Ham United Women).

Attempt missed. Maren Mjelde (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Sam Kerr.

Attempt missed. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Magdalena Eriksson.

Attempt missed. Melanie Leupolz (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.

Offside, Chelsea Women. Magdalena Eriksson tries a through ball, but Sam Kerr is caught offside.

Attempt blocked. Alsu Abdullina (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Risa Shimizu.

Attempt saved. Melanie Leupolz (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jelena Cankovic.

Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Shannon Cooke.

Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Anouk Denton.

Attempt blocked. Jelena Cankovic (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.

Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women).

Substitution, Chelsea Women. Alsu Abdullina replaces Guro Reiten.

Source Link