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Chelsea complete domestic treb...

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Chelsea complete domestic treble as they beat Arsenal in FA Cup final

98FM
98FM

04:08 5 Dec 2021


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Chelsea are the 2020/21 Women's FA Cup Champions after a 3-0 win over Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.

Player of the match Sam Kerr scored twice for Emma Hayes' side with Fran Kirby also finding the back of the net in front of a crowd of nearly 45,000 at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

The win completes a domestic treble for the Blues as this game was delayed due to fixture congestion caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

It took just three minutes for Chelsea to go ahead through Kirby.

The ball ricocheted off a couple of players, 35 yards from the Arsenal goal, and bounced favourably for her.

She then went down through the middle and clipped the ball calmly into the corner after drawing out the Arsenal keeper.

What a start for the Blues who were then totally dominant for the first 30 minutes of the game.

Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe started on the wing for Arsenal.

Her first involvement came in the 15th minute as she took the Gunners' first corner but it was cleared by Chelsea's Cuthbert.

Chelsea then had another great chance four minutes later as Kirby took a shot that was pushed round the near post by Zinsberge.

Emma Hayes was incensed that they were not rewarded a penalty for a tackle by Beattie in the build-up.

Chelsea then completely controlled the half before Arsenal had a penalty appeal in the 40th minute.

Mead ran at Cuthbert in the area, before twisting back inside and the ball clearly made contact with Cuthbert's arm as she was committed to the tackle.

Lucky for Chelsea but how they only led 1-0 at half-time was beyond anyone watching.

They pressed and pressed and if it wasn't for fine saves from Zinsberger the scoreboard would have been much different.

Arsenal did come out for the second half looking calmer and more composed, less frantic in their approach to try and stop Chelsea.

However just over 10 minutes after the break Chelsea doubled their lead through Sam Kerr as she scored on the break.

Kirby slid a long pass down the line to Kerr, who made an excellent run from centre to left.

Kerr cut inside before sending a low shot past Zinsberger at the near post.

In the 65th minute McCabe found herself booked.

Her corner was headed away at the near post and as Chelsea attempted to go on the break McCabe was judged to cynically foul Kirby.

Then it was Sam Kerr who scored again in the 77th minute to put the game totally out of reach for McCabe and her teammates.

She found herself through on goal, took two touches to set herself up and then, with Zinsberger on the six-yard line, chipped it over her and into the back of the net.

And 3-0 was how it finished up to secure the domestic treble for Chelsea for the first time.


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