Kerr Heads Chelsea Into 2022-23 Women’s FA Cup Final – Sport Grill
Sam Kerr headed Chelsea into their seventh Women’s FA Cup Final in a tense 1-0 semi-final win at Aston Villa.
Kerr headed in Guro Reiten’s 59th minute cross from close-range to settle a tight contest in which Villa dominated, yet Chelsea’s experience ultimately proved the difference as they secured their seventh appearance in the Women’s FA Cup Final.
Villa meanwhile misses out on the chance to make their first-ever appearance in the Women’s FA Cup Final, after a series of saves from Chelsea’s Zecira Musovic.
Chelsea will now meet Women’s Super League title rivals, Manchester United in the Women’s FA Cup Final on Sunday 14 May, at Wembley Stadium, London, where the Blues are bidding for a fifth overall Women’s FA Cup title.
It just had to be!
— Vitality Women’s FA Cup (@VitalityWFACup) April 16, 2023
Having triumphed in their WSL meeting before the international break, two-time defending champions Chelsea began as firm favourites to reach a seventh Women’s FA Cup Final in their history.
Emma Hayes’ Blues however were under early pressure as Villa’s Jordan Nobbs teed up Rachel Daly with a second-minute through ball, which was blocked.
Villa though were fortunate to not fall behind in the 11th minute after Magdalena Eriksson’s header from a corner was directed straight into Hannah Hampton’s arms, having conceded the set-piece through Maz Pacheco’s block of Jelena Cankovic’s low cross.
Lauren James meanwhile proved Chelsea’s most influential threat in the first-half amidst sloppy final touches, of which her best chance fell in the 17th minute, as she flicked Reiten’s short corner over the bar.
James also wasted a huge chance in the 27th minute as she intercepted Kenza Dali, but fired wide of the near-right corner, which came barely a minute after Kerr saw a tame shot from Reiten’s cutback pass saved by Hannah Hampton.
Villa meanwhile weathered waves of Chelsea attacks throughout the first half and almost claimed a 34th minute lead, as Kirsty Hanson played an one-two move on the left flank with Pacheco but ultimately curled over the bar as she targeted the far right corner.
Hanson one minute later teed up Daly with a cross but Eriksson was alert to make a crucial block, and the subsequent corner was cleared.
January signing, Lucy Staniforth then attempted a 25-yard screamer towards the top-right corner in the 43rd minute, yet Musovic was alert to crucially save the shot and deny Carla Ward’s Villains a surprise lead as the hosts chased a first-ever Women’s FA Cup Final appearance.
Chelsea right-back, Eve Perisset delivered the last shot of the first half as she pounced upon Cankovic’s cross, yet could only volley over the bar as neither team broke the deadlock before half-time.
Perisset’s miss however provided Chelsea with immediate spark at the start of the second-half as James flicked a cross behind for Cankovic, who was only able to rattle the top-right corner of the crossbar.
Reiten saw a 50th minute free-kick saved by Hampton after she had opted to curl low under a gap in Villa’s defensive wall, before Sarah Mayling went up the other end seconds later but chipped her shot over the bar.
Chelsea continued to build upon their high-energy start to the second-half as several shots were denied in rapid succession during the 56th minute.
Villa though wasted two decent chance to take the lead just before the hour mark as Daly headed wide from Dali’s cutback cross in the 58th minute, before Lehmann fired wide barely a minute later after she intercepted Melanie Leupolz’s clearance of Jordan Nobbs’ cross.
That inaccurate shot however came back quickly to bite Villa as Chelsea broke forward and Reiten played an one-two move with Cankovic, which led Reiten to eventually whip in a cross to the far-right post for Kerr to nod in from close range to put the four-time champions ahead.
Villa nevertheless refused to give up as Staniforth and Hanson soon afterwards saw shots denied by Musovic, whilst Daly headed over the bar from a 67th minute corner.
Dali missed a huge chance to equalise and take the tie to extra-time in the 81st minute as she pounced upon a deflection of Hanson’s cross, yet was only able to fire over the bar as Villa dominated the closing 20 minutes.
Mayling meanwhile hit the left-post in the 84th minute as she picked up a loose defensive clearance amidst continued pressure from Villa.
Chelsea eventually clung on to clinch their seventh overall Women’s FA Cup Final appearance where they will chase a fifth title, whilst also seeking to become only the third team to win three consecutive titles in this competition after Southampton and Arsenal.
What’s Next?
Villa resume their WSL campaign next weekend with a trip to Tottenham on Sunday 23 April at 2pm BST.
Chelsea meanwhile are in Women’s Champions League action on Saturday 22 April as they host Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, in the first leg of their semi-final tie at 12:30pm BST.
Aston Villa: Hannah Hampton, Sarah Mayling, Danielle Turner, Anna Patten, Maz Pacheco, Kenza Dali, Lucy Staniforth, Jordan Nobbs, Alisha Lehmann, Rachel Daly, Kirsty Hanson
Substitutes: Remi Allen, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Freya Gregory, Laura Blindkilde-Brown, Anna Leat, Simone Magill, Alice Keitley, Ruesha Littlejohn
Chelsea: Zecira Musovic, Eve Perisset, Maren Mjelde, Magdalena Eriksson, Jess Carter, Jelena Cankovic, Melanie Leupolz (Ingle 64′), Lauren James (Charles 65′), Guro Reiten (Rytting Kaneryd 88′), Erin Cuthbert (Fleming 70′), Sam Kerr
Substitutes: Sophie Ingle, Jessie Fleming, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Niamh Charles, Pernille Harder, Alsu Abdullina, Emily Orman
Referee: Cheryl Foster