Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United: Sam Kerr goal hands Emma Hayes' Blues an FA Cup final hat-trick

ByAlex Livie

Updated 14/05/2023 at 17:05 GMT

The Women's FA Cup was won by Chelsea for a third season in a row. Manchester United made it hard for Emma Hayes' side at Wembley on Sunday, but the quality of The Blues' attack was the difference as Sam Kerr scored the winning goal in the second half. The finish was a simple one, after superb work from Pernille Harder. The two sides will now shift focus to the WSL.

Chelsea made it a hat-trick of consecutive Women’s FA Cup final wins with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Wembley.

After triumphs over Arsenal and Manchester City in the previous two years, Sam Kerr’s second-half goal - in front of a record crowd (77,390) for a British women's domestic match - handed Emma Hayes’ charges the trophy for a third season in a row.

It was not a waltz in the London sunshine for The Blues, who had goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to thank for keeping them on level terms in the first half.

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Millie Turner thought she had put United in front when seeing her deflected shot head towards goal, but the German ‘keeper adjusted her feet superbly to claw the effort away.

At the other end, Mary Earps showed her value to United, the England goalkeeper scampering across her line to keep out a looping header from Lauren James.

Chelsea turned up the heat in the second half, and the introduction of Pernille Harder added a real attacking threat.

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The pressure eventually told on 68 minutes, with Harder the architect of the winning goal.

Guro Reiten played in the Danish forward on the right-hand side, and she delivered a superb cross to hand Kerr a simple task to score at the far post.

United were unable to find a response and Chelsea should have ensured the final 10 minutes were comfortable, but Sophie Ingle blazed over from eight yards after fabulous build-up work from Kerr.

Sam Kerr of Chelsea celebrates during the Vitality Women's FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 14, 2023 in London, England

Image credit: Getty Images

The focus for both sides will now shift to the Women’s Super League. Champions Chelsea currently trail leaders United by one point, but have a game in hand.

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