Chelsea overcame Manchester United to win a fifth Women’s FA Cup in front of a record Wembley crowd this afternoon.
A closely fought contest was ultimately decided in the 68th minute when Sam Kerr converted a perfectly weighted Pernille Harder cross. In doing so, the Australian forward matched Kim Little’s record for goals in consecutive finals (three).
THE MOMENT! ?#WomensFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/gtuMwWUC7h
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 14, 2023
Emma Hayes’ double-chasers, by winning a third consecutive title, also equalled a feat previously set by Southampton in the 1970s and Arsenal three decades later.
In another watershed moment for the game, today’s attendance of 77,390 sets a new world record for women’s domestic club football, beating a league encounter between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Five years ago, Chelsea’s opponents were nonexistent, with this final representing Man Utd’s first opportunity to win a major piece of silverware. Marc Skinner’s side, who kept Blues goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger busy throughout, had a goal disallowed after 20 seconds but it wasn’t meant to be.
Today’s disappointment can be alleviated by winning the Women’s Super League; as things stand, they’re a point ahead of Chelsea, with two matches remaining, but the Londoners have a game in hand.
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“We switch off in one moment, there’s space to Sam [Kerr] to run in to which we haven’t given her all game,” Skinner said afterwards.
“I’m proud of the girls today, they are hungry. Their position is what we want to take. We are a young, hungry team. I need to find the pieces to make sure we challenge all the time.
“Chelsea have done hardly anything in the game, but they are winners for a reason, they find that tiny little gap.
“I want to thank all the fans, they have been magnificent. We won’t dwell on this, it fuels us. We watch this [Chelsea celebrate], this will be us in future.”
Kerr, who has now scored eight times against Man Utd, is nevertheless basking in another trophy-winning occasion.
ICONIC.#WomensFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/sxBiVLIg2j
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 14, 2023
“I think it’s the sign of a great team, we didn’t have our best game but we pushed through. Everyone stuck at it and we got the win,” she told BBC Sport.
“P [Pernille Harder] did amazing, the team did amazing. I’d be wrong to say it was all me. I’m just lucky to be the number nine in this great team.
“A lot of people have been asking for it [the back flip celebration]. I text my friend and said back flip incoming today.”
Any idea of late-night celebrations has been squashed as Chelsea visits West Ham on Wednesday knowing a win there sees them leapfrog Man Utd to sit atop the WSL table.
“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 said.
“Sam Kerr is priceless but let’s credit Pernille [Harder]. We know we needed more stretching runs. I almost made the change at halftime but I held off to see who might be tired.”