LONDON (Reuters) – Chelsea retained the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday with a 3-2 extra-time win over Manchester City, finishing the double this season after profitable the Super League title final week.
City had twice equalised, first by way of Lauren Hemp after Sam Kerr’s opener and, close to the top, Hayley Raso cancelled out Erin Cuthbert’s screamer. However, Kerr struck early in the primary interval of extra time to present Chelsea their fourth FA Cup.
The holders opened the scoring across the half-hour mark at a moist Wembley with a header from Australian striker Kerr after a deep cross from Millie Bright. But, they have been pegged again by an exquisite end from City ahead Hemp shortly earlier than halftime.
Chelsea midfielder Cuthbert thundered a long-range effort in off the crossbar across the hour mark to retake the lead. However, in the 89th minute a protracted ball was taken down properly by Australian Raso who fired in the equaliser to take the sport to extra time.
City pressed for a winner however have been undone 9 minutes into the primary interval when Kerr picked up the ball in her personal half and ran at purpose earlier than seeing her shot take a giant deflection and trickle in.
Emma Hayes’s facet then stored City at bay to win a second successive FA Cup in entrance of 49,094 followers, a report attendance for the ultimate beating the earlier mark of 45,423 set in 2018.
(Reporting by Christian Radnedge; Editing by Toby Davis)