Women’s FA Cup photo essay – road to Wembley, final: Chelsea v Manchester City | Women’s FA Cup

Manchester City’s Victory over West Ham in the semi-final meant they were heading for Wembley for the fourth FA Cup final in the last six seasons. The match against Chelsea was a repeat of March’s League Cup final which City won 3-1. Whichever team triumphed would be winning a double, after Chelsea Secured the Women’s Super League title last weekend. A Victory for Emma Hayes’ side would also mean that following 2020-21’s Treble, Chelsea would have won five of the six domestic trophies on offer over the past two seasons. The two sides have developed a strong rivalry in recent years, with Chelsea’s dominance only punctured by City’s success in the cup competitions.

After a blistering start by City, with Caroline Weir going close on a couple of occasions, Chelsea steadied the ship and the game developed into a cagey one with both teams playing cautiously, Desperate not to concede the first goal. Sam Kerr did breach the City defense in the 18th minute (below) when she raced through and finished with aplomb, but her effort was chalked off for offside.

Kerr found the net again 15 minutes later when she headed home to Millie Bright’s looping cross. This time the goal stood, and Chelsea had the lead.

Manchester City equalized just before half-time courtesy of a wonderful curling effort by Lauren Hemp, seen below surging past Chelsea defender Millie Bright.

Chelsea’s lead was restored shortly after the hour mark when Erin Cuthbert’s Piledriver of a shot from outside the area Flew past Manchester City keeper Ellie Roeback, going in off the underside of the bar.

Manchester City stepped up the pressure in the search for an equalizer and in the 89th minute, Hayley Raso chested down a long ball, held off the challenge of Magdalena Eriksson and poked the ball home, sending raptures of delight through the City fans as the game went to extra time.

City carried that momentum into the first half of the extra-time and went close on a number of occasions – but the Pendulum swings again in the 99th minute. City’s Alanna Kennedy misjudged a Bouncing ball just inside the Chelsea half, which allowed Sam Kerr time and space to break forward. From just inside the City area, the Australian hits a shot that takes a big deflection off the stretching Alex Greenwood, wrong-footing Roebuck and putting Chelsea in front for a third time.

City search in just for another equalizer but time is against them, and the final whistle of Sparks scenes of Joy among Chelsea players and fans.

The Victory over City was Chelsea’s fourth FA Cup triumph, all of them under Hayes and it takes her Trophy Haul with the club up to 13. “That was so amazing for the Women’s game today,” she said afterwards. “I love playing Manchester City – it is football of the highest level. Tactically both teams have their strengths. I thought we were really bold and for that reason, that’s why they were on the winning team. ‘