Player ratings as Kerr strike settles Women’s FA Cup final

FROM WEMBLEY STADIUM – Chelsea beat Manchester United in a record-breaking Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley on Sunday afternoon, lifting the trophy for the third successive year in front of more than 77,000 people – a world record for a domestic women’s club game.

Sam Kerr scored the only goal of the final that had been dominated by United for around an hour. But the addition of a world class game-changer from the bench in the shape of Pernille Harder shifted the balance in Chelsea’s favour and they ran with it.

United made a lightning-fast start and a goal within the opening 30 seconds, the result of a suffocating high press, scored by Leah Galton was chalked off by the narrowest of offside margins. Moments later, Alessia Russo’s pressing again threatened to cause Chelsea problems, while Nikita Parris almost got in at goal and Ella Toone had a shot blocked.

Just when Chelsea were threatening to build some momentum of their own, United were able to pick them off and it turned into a chance for Parris, albeit straight at Ann-Katrin Berger. Marc Skinner’s team just had a bit more zip and bite in their play and, after another quick counter, only an outstretched Chelsea boot denied Russo a potential tap-in.

United’s clearest chance to break the deadlock came as a deep Katie Zelem free-kick wasn’t dealt with and Berger somehow managed to readjust her body in time to push Millie Turner’s deflected shot to safety. As the half progressed, Galton’s also eyes lit up at a near-post cross, but she shot with her left foot rather than attempt to wrap her right around the ball and it went high and wide.

Chelsea hadn’t posed much threat for nearly 40 minutes, but flexed their muscles when Lauren James got in front of Turner and had Mary Earps scrambling to turn a looping header onto the post. But that didn’t dampen United and Parris was incensed when referee Emily Heaslip signalled a free-kick, not a penalty, for a trip from Niamh Charles right on the line. VAR backed the on-field decision.

Emma Hayes’ side started the second half sharper and a few crosses started going in from the left as Guro Reiten stirred into some life. Yet with Galton having another United chance saved by Berger, the Chelsea boss didn’t wait long to turn to her bench when Harder and Sophie Ingle were put on.

Harder had a glorious chance to make an instant impact after a rare Maya Le Tissier mistake, but she only made a weak connection with the ball under pressure from the same…