By Glenn Moore
For more than an hour at Wembley, Sam Kerr had fed on scraps, chasing lost causes and long balls, as Manchester United dominated the English Women’s FA Cup final.
Then, at last, Chelsea sliced through the red wall of defenders. As Pernille Harder broke down the right, Kerr peeled away into space, anticipated the cross, and stabbed it past FIFA Best Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Mary Earps.
Sam Kerr was named player of the match. Credit:
It was Kerr’s fifth goal in three FA Cup finals, and her 10th in six domestic finals with Chelsea, celebrated with her trademark backflip somersault.
It also proved to be the only goal of Sunday’s game. One week after bearing Australia’s flag at the King’s Coronation, Kerr had carried Chelsea to another crown.
This was a royal occasion, too, with Prince William among the 77,390 in attendance, a world record for a women’s domestic club match.
“We didn’t have our best game today but that’s a sign of a great team when you just push through,” said Kerr. “Everyone did their part and we stuck with it and ended up winning.
“The team did amazing. I’m just blessed to be the nine in this team.”
Kerr was named player of the match, but said: “I don’t deserve this. There are people way more deserving than me today, but I will take it on behalf of the team.”
In theory Kerr led the line with support from Canada’s Jessie Fleming, 79 days before the pair will be in opposition in Melbourne at the Women’s World Cup.
Meanwhile in the English Premier League, Ilkay Gundogan scored two brilliant goals as Manchester City moved to within six points of the title with a comfortable 3-0 win at Everton.
With three games remaining, Pep Guardiola’s treble-chasing side have 85 points and have a match in hand on Arsenal who play Brighton & Hove Albion later. Everton remain in a precarious position, one point above the relegation zone in 17th place with 32 points and two games left to play.
Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match against Everton.Credit:
Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes are almost over after losing 3-0 to Brighton on Sunday.
Second-half goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan consigned Mikel Arteta’s once long-time league leaders to a punishing defeat at Emirates Stadium.
The loss means Manchester City, which beat Everton 3-0 earlier in the day, can be crowned champions with a win against Chelsea next Sunday.
City has 85 points — four more than Arsenal — and also has a game in hand. Arsenal only has two more games to play this season and the most points it can get is 87.
First-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa secured a comfortable 2-0 home Premier League victory for Brentford over West Ham United to ensure their best top-flight finish since 1938.
Brentford move up to ninth place with 53 points from 36 games and will finish in the top half for the first time since they came sixth 85 years ago. West Ham stay in 15th place, six points clear of the relegation zone with two games to play.
AP and Reuters
