Sam Kerr leads the Chelsea Women to FA Cup glory

This was thee only way this 2021/22 Chelsea Women’s season could come to a close. Emma Hayes and the Blues achieved the league and cup double for the second straight season, winning the Women’s Super League and the Women’s FA Cup on back-to-back weekends. Ji So-yun and Drew Spence both got their well-deserved standing ovations at Wembley Stadium on Sunday; they also had the privilege to wave the blue flag following the win. Gareth Taylor and the Citizens did not go down without a fight as they equalized twice on the day, including one in the final minute of regulation time through a strong finish by Australian Hayley Raso.

The exhaustion got to both teams as the long strenuous season concluded, but it was the Blues who—as they always figure out a way to do—grinded out the result. If the WSL did not already know Manchester City is a title contender in 2022/23, it does now. The Citizens’ individual talent frustrated the Blues all afternoon, but per usual, two moments of Sam Kerr magic were enough to see Chelsea fulfill revenge from the Conti Cup final loss this season.

Sam Kerr’s stunning performance leads Chelsea to Women’s FA Cup final win

Following the win, Hayes expressed her thoughts, stating:

"“I can’t bear losing. I can’t bear the thought of it, I don’t want to think about it. It fuels me, losing. And the minute I feel any of them (other teams) coming close, I just want to get better … I don’t do well in comfort and I lead a team to live like that. Like, today, I couldn’t want to be in a better game, even when they scored … I think these two teams (are) top quality—and today was our day … That was really amazing for the women’s game today. Two teams that respect the crap out of each other.”"

The continued relentlessness combined with the quality from the back line to the front, the Chelsea Women did what the men could not in a season full of turmoil. For the second straight FA Cup final, Kerr bagged two goals—including netting the goal to seal both titles in each match. Her brilliance cannot be overstated. From her magical feet that lifted the Blues to a win over Manchester United the weekend prior to her world class finishing ability under an enormous amount of pressure, Kerr makes everyone’s job just a little easier.

The Australian is a born goal scorer. Even though Man City fought back twice to even the scoreline, it did not have Kerr on its side, and that is most of the time the difference. 11 goals in the last eight matches in all competitions for a player that gets better and better as the season gets closer to its conclusion. Despite leaving for the Asian Cup in January to serve on her national team, Kerr still managed to net an astounding 29 goals in just 31 matches played in all competitions this season. A superhuman achievement for a player that has moved Chelsea into fourth all-time in Women’s FA Cup victories.

A collection of stout defending, magical plays from world class individuals and a little bit of luck pushed the Blues to the finish line. If Alex Greenwood did not deflect the shot struck by Kerr in extra time, the trophy lift could have looked a lot different in the end. That is what a cup final is all about though, small moments that will ultimately be the difference between glory and asking what could have been. The veteran wingback, Alanna Kennedy’s, miscue late in the match that led to the finish by Kerr on the other end will be running through the minds of everyone at the club as the offseason is now underway. The Citizens were inches away from a domestic club double. Regardless, they’ll now be heading into the next season full of confidence that they can beat arguably the best team in England when the lights are shining the brightest.

The heart and soul of this seasons’ Chelsea team, Erin Cuthbert, scored possibly the goal of the season with her right footed strike in the tightest of spaces. Against one of the most creative and versatile midfielders in the WSL, Cuthbert changed the pace of the contest after a hectic opening few minutes of the match. It didn’t take long for the Blues to get settled against the opposition, but when the players like Pernille Harder and Beth England—along with Kerr—started to put pressure on the Citizens’ defense, the turnovers kept coming. It was not the cleanest of contests for Chelsea, as the Blues were sloppy with the ball at times, but Chelsea was far more clinical than City, who no doubt had the better opportunities.

The Citizens executed 19 or more shots in the fifth consecutive match, but Sunday afternoon was the first time it failed to win. 23 shots for the Citizens and only four of them caused any trouble for Blues’ goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. It was the ability for Chelsea to capitalize on the opportunities that were presented to it that decided who lifted the trophy at full-time. All of the statistics from shots to possession, City dominated. That is, except for the only one that matters.

The questions will soon pile up for Hayes and the Blues, but for now, it is time to soak in the glory of a season well done. Not much has gone the club’s way since the calendar turned into 2022, but the Chelsea Women continued to fight through all of the adversity of it. Record attendance numbers at Wembley watching the Blues finish the season off the only way they know how shows the growth of the women’s game.

Meanwhile, Hayes claimed her 11th trophy as Chelsea boss and demonstrated once again that this Chelsea Women’s team is going nowhere, despite the impending change in ownership.