Chelsea will face Manchester United in the Women's FA Cup final victories over Aston Villa and Brighton respectively.
Australia's Sam Kerr, who will be pinned up on the wall in the Irish camp ahead of the FIFA World Cup, continued her shining form as she scored her 24th goal of the season to see off a resilient Aston Villa side who went toe-to-toe with the defending champions for large parts of the game.
Sam Kerr in the midst of fallen villains🥶🥶🥶🥶. #CFCW pic.twitter.com/jpylFdsyeO
— Chelsea Women Daily (@CFCWdaily) April 17, 2023
Chelsea made five changes to the side that side that beat Aston Villa 3-0 before the international break and they didn't have it their own way.
Sam Kerr was kept quiet in the first half by Villa, who enjoyed 49% of possession, but it was Chelsea who looked more threatening after the break before they found the opening. Lioness, Lauren James, who will face her former side Manchester United in the final, went close twice before Sam Kerr came in clutch. The goal came just after Villa enjoyed their best spell of the game, with Rachel Daly and Alisha Lehmann both having good chances. Ireland's Ruesha Littlejohn was an unused substitute.
Chelsea Manager, Emma Hayes, praised Sam Kerr's clinical eye for goal after the Australian international scored the winner Hayes said, "I’d rather have the most efficient player in the world than someone who has a million chances, she’s just unbelievable." Hayes lauded Kerr's movement, something Ireland's defence is going to have to take particular care of in the opening game of the World Cup. Hayes said, "I’ve never seen a centre-forward move as much as her. It’s not just a single movement. It’s a double movement. Next time you watch her play, watch her transition, and then watch who makes the first movements – it’s always Sam."
Sam Kerr loves the #WomensFACup!@ChelseaFCW pic.twitter.com/WuUjN9N9SP
— Vitality Women's FA Cup (@VitalityWFACup) April 17, 2023
Chelsea will lock-horns with Women's Super Leagye leaders Manchester United in the final set for May 14th in Wembley Stadium. Just five years after being founded in the second tier Championship, the Red Devlis will play in Wembley for the first time.
United reached a historic first ever Women's FA Cup final after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Brighton. Rachel Williams scored the winner in the 89th minute to secure the victory for United. Brighton had taken the lead through an own goal from Mary Earps, but Leah Galton equalised for United early in the second half. Ireland's Megan Connolly came off the bench in the 56th minute for Brihgton and it looked as if United were on their way to Wembley when Lionesses star Alessia Russo fired into the roof of the net from a Katie Zelem but with 15 minutes to play, Danielle Carter levelled for Brighton. Man United introduced Williams off the bench and she wrote her name into histroy, scorign the winner for United in the 89th minute to keep their dream of a domestic double alive.
Rachel Williams! 🔥
A brilliant through ball from @katiezelem and Williams with a super cool finish 🌟#WomensFACup @ManUtdWomen pic.twitter.com/C8CdTp7bKO— Vitality Women's FA Cup (@VitalityWFACup) April 15, 2023
Manchester United Manager, Casey Stoney, was pleased with her team's performance. "I'm really pleased for the players. It was a really tough game and they fought really hard," Stoney said. "They (Brighton) played well, they made it tough for us. But credit to my players, they kept going and got the win," Stoney said.
United will now face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on May 14th, in what promises to be a fascinating encounter between two of the best teams in the Women's Super League. Chelsea will be looking to retain the trophy, while United will be hoping to complete a domestic double and get their hands on the FA Cup for the first time.
6️⃣5️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ tickets issued so far for this year's #WomensFACup Final 🤯
Neutral area tickets are now sold out.
Tickets for both Chelsea and Manchester United ends will go on sale this week through the respective clubs 🎟️ pic.twitter.com/hDfPDJVtAR— Vitality Women's FA Cup (@VitalityWFACup) April 17, 2023
