Chelsea complete double as reigning holders defeat Man City after extra time in Women's FA Cup Final
Chelsea 3-2 Manchester City
Chelsea complete the Double after beating Man City in extra-time at Wembley
Erin Cuthbert named player of the match after scoring with gorgeous strike
Sam Kerr scores twice in front of record 49,094 crowd
They are the trophy winning machine of women’s football and even when things are not running smoothly, Chelsea get the job done as Emma Hayes’ side completed a league and cup double for the second successive year.
Manchester City were the last side to beat them, back in March in the Conti Cup final, but despite looking the better side, they have not got Chelsea’s ruthless streak. City had 29 shots on goal and 60 per cent possession. Chelsea made three of their nine attempts on goal count.
Chelsea are relentless winners. Since Hayes appointment in 2012, they have won 11 trophies. This was the fourth time they have done a domestic double. The only blot on this campaign was an early exit in the Champions League having reached the final 12 months earlier.
“I’m so f---ing happy,” said Hayes. “That was so amazing for the women’s game, two teams who respect each other going toe-to-toe like that in a final. We dug it out again, that doesn’t surprise me. It’s not about me making decisions, it’s the team buying into what it takes to win. They will go down in history, this group of women, as one of the greatest.”
This was hard on City, who conceded goals against the run of play, but only on the third occasion could they not find an equaliser.
This is what Chelsea seem to be able to do to everyone and anyone, particularly when they have a striker like Sam Kerr to call upon.
The Australian scored twice to take her tally to 32 for the season. A header in the first half of normal time, a second, via a cruel deflection off Alex Greenwood, in the first half of extra time. Chelsea epitomised that old saying - the harder they work, the luckier they get.
Hayes warned her players would have to suffer to win this final and they certainly did that. City matched them physically and, in Lauren Hemp, had the outstanding player on the pitch.
But Chelsea landed the first blow and every time City pulled level, they landed another.
Their first goal is not one City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck will want to see again, who completely mistimed her jump trying to tip over a looping cross from Mille Bright, the ball dropping over her hand and on to the forehead of Kerr who had anticipated the flight of the ball to perfection. Unlike the City keeper.
It was a nasty shock for City to fall behind as they had created the better openings. Caroline Weir should have given them the lead inside ten minutes, when a deflected cross from the thrilling Hemp, fell into her path.
A driving run from Chloe Kelly also forced the Chelsea defence to scramble and there were desperate blocks to prevent Hemp and Weir’s shots finding the target.
This is what Chelsea do better than anyone. They hung in there, stayed strong, did not fall behind and got their goal when the chance came.
It looked like being a tough half-time team talk for City head coach Gareth Taylor, only for some individual brilliance from Hemp to level the game.
So much will be expected from Hemp in an England shirt this summer and she was the main threat for City too. When Bright assumed she would try to beat her with her stronger left foot, Hemp shifted her weight and with a burst of speed, went around the centre back on her weaker foot and curled a shot inside the far post.
The momentum shift was obvious. City came out at the start of the second buoyed by the knowledge they could hurt Chelsea. City should have gone in front when another surging run from Kelly, saw her pick out Bunny Shaw with a cross, but the Jamaica international’s header was so off target, it fell back into her path.
Kelly’s second cross found Hemp but she was denied by an excellent save from Ann-Katrin Berger, who sprinted off her line.
Once again, Chelsea stayed calm, kept their shape, their composure and kept City out until, against the run of play again, they retook the lead. It was another fine goal too as Erin Cuthburt was allowed to control the ball on the edge of the area and with her second touch smash a shot home via the underside of the crossbar.
City poured forward, another half chance missed by Shaw, with an air kick inside the box as she tried to sweep a shot in on the turn.
Hemp continued to torture Bright, but City could not get anyone on the end of anything in the box. Shaw did wonderfully well to wriggle free down the left, nutmegging Carter, but decided to cross rather than shoot and once again a Chelsea toe poke cleared.
Ellen White emerged from the bench, so did Julie Blakstad, but it was Hayley Raso who was Taylor’s most effective substitution, running on to a precision pass from Greenwood, nodding the ball past a defender and then steering a shot beyond Berger with the outside of the foot.
Chelsea had the final say, Kerr on the counter putting her team in front for the third and final time.
“If you give Chelsea three goals you are going to struggle,” said City boss Gareth Taylor. “But you have to take your hat off, they grind out wins, they are extremely good at what they do. Other than ourselves, nobody else has managed to win any trophies in the last few years because of them.”
Chelsea 3 Man City 2: as it happened
04:28 PMSam Kerr
Sam Kerr
"Amazing feeling to be part of this club, the best in the world."
04:23 PMChelsea lift the trophy
Chelsea lift the trophy
Millie Bright and Magdalena Eriksson the women who have their hands on the cup.
04:20 PMEmma Hayes leads her women up the Wembley steps
Emma Hayes leads her women up the Wembley steps
High fiving a little kid on the way, waving at a couple of people. Love Emma. What a brilliant manager and a class act all around.
04:17 PMThe City women go up
The City women go up
to get their runners up medals. Hard lines. A matter of inches really, Kennedy misjudging the bounce of the ball that led to Kerr's winner. The deflection off Greenwood as Kerr shot.
04:12 PMErin Cuthbert
Erin Cuthbert
"It really takes the wind out of your sails to concede that late on. We had to regroup and we dug in for 120 minutes. So many times this year we have faced setbacks, with Covid and injury and we have gone to the squad."
""I don't score goals like that but it's an amazing honour. I thought it was going to be a winning goal and it wasn't, Sam's [Kerr] was just as important, it took a deflection and it doesn't matter what the goal looks like as long as it goes in. If they go in like that Wembley I'm happy."
04:09 PMLinks
- Laura Coombs: 'Man City are on a roll, now we want the FA Cup'
- Karen Carney : 'I was in a dark place, abuse traumatised me'
- Sam Kerr : 'I'm a risk-taker, my life is lived on the edge'
04:06 PMFull time: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
Links
- Laura Coombs: 'Man City are on a roll, now we want the FA Cup'
- Karen Carney : 'I was in a dark place, abuse traumatised me'
- Sam Kerr : 'I'm a risk-taker, my life is lived on the edge'
04:06 PMFull time: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
Full time: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
That was a really superb Cup Final. Had a bit of everything. Honestly a shame that one side has to come away empty handed. Those City players have given everything.
04:03 PM120 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
120 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
Berger gathers the corner. Commanding.
Still City come. But an attack flounders when Weir fails to control, and Chelsea have it. Kerr takes the ball to the corner and draws a foul.
Erin Cuthbert has been named the player of the match.
04:03 PM119 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
119 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
Raso and Bronze straining everything down that right flank. They've managed to win a corner.
Is this the last r of the d for City?
03:59 PM116 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
116 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
City with a good attack here though, Weir - who has not brought her shooting boots today - wallops the shot a mile over.
03:58 PM115 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
115 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
Chelsea rightly figuring that the best form of defence is attack. Charles is driving at the City back line, who are standing off.
03:53 PM110 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
110 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
Chelsea have a corner. They are not rushing it. Kerr is making a nuisance of herself. City get it clear eventually.
03:49 PM106 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
106 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
We resume. Can City force an equaliser? Bronze bombs forward. The Bronze Bomber, if you will, and crosses. Coombs shoots over.
03:46 PMHalf time in extra time: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
Half time in extra time: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
Raso goes close but mis-hits the effort.
That's the half.
03:43 PM101 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
101 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
Hard lines on Greenwod too, that deflection did the keeper no favours.
03:42 PM100 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
100 mins: Chelsea 3 Man City 2
Poor Allana Kennedy looks gutted. She misjudged that bounce of the ball and played her side into terrible trouble.
03:39 PMGOAL! Chelsea 3 Man City 2 (Kerr 99)
GOAL! Chelsea 3 Man City 2 (Kerr 99)
Danger here. Kerr has it down the right, Kennedy with some poor decision making, and Kerr is away. Kerr speeds into the area, she's got a colleague inside her on the left but she decides to shoot herself. Her luck is in, because Greenwood has raced to get back and, hard lines for her, deflects Kerr's shot past her own keeper.
03:35 PM95 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 2
95 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 2
White is within his rights to slide in on the ball in the six yard box, although she has caught Berger in the process.
03:31 PM91 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 2
91 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 2
City on the front foot, Hemp drives forward and crosses. Bright with a last-ditch block.
03:31 PMExtra time begins
Extra time begins
All to play for in an excellent Cup Final.
03:28 PMChelsea must be gutted
Chelsea must be gutted
They were only a few minutes away from the trophy. City do seem to be the side with the wind at their backs.
03:24 PMEnd of normal time: Chelsea 2 Man City 2
End of normal time: Chelsea 2 Man City 2
We will have extra time. This has been a super match.
Wembley update. A pair of stunning goals from Cuthbert and Raso means extra-time. City the better side, but Chelsea so dogged.
— Glenn Moore (@GlennMoore7) May 15, 2022
03:23 PM90+ mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 2
90+ mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 2
Speculative cross into the Chelsea box, Bright with a risky header that goes to Hemp. She cannot find a teammate with the ball. City looking more likely.
03:20 PMGOAL! Chelsea 2 Man City 2 (Raso 88)
GOAL! Chelsea 2 Man City 2 (Raso 88)
Raso with the late equaliser! The left full back, Eriksson has misjudged a diagonal ball. Hayley Raso controls it on her chest, barrels into the area, and slots the ball past the keeper. Yes.
Alex Greenwood the woman who played that excellent pass.
That touch and finish from @HayleyRaso 🔥
City are level in the dying minutes! 😱#WomensFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/k6UbkSeGWn— Vitality Women's FA Cup (@VitalityWFACup) May 15, 2022
03:18 PM87 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
87 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
Chelsea have switched to a back four, and they are extremely well drilled. Lucy Bronze is caught in their offside trap.
03:17 PM85 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
85 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
Weir drives forward, hits a daisy cutter of a shot. Berger falls on that gratefully.
03:14 PM83 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
83 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
Julia Blakstad replaces Demi Stokes.
03:13 PMTom Garry on attendance
Tom Garry on attendance
This is the highest attendance this competition has ever seen. It's not quite the 50,000+ that organisers had dreamt of, but it's a notable rise on last season. These are all of the attendances for this fixture since the final moved to be staged at Wembley in 2015:
2015: 30,710
2016: 32,912
2017: 35,271
2018: 45,423
2019: 43,264
2020: N/a (Covid)
2021: 40,942
2022: 49,094
03:12 PM81 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
81 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
Jess Carter with a well timed foul, just as City were getting a shot away. Accepts the yellow without murmur.
03:09 PM80 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
80 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
Shaw again with some useful hold up play. Feeds a colleague who shoots over.
Shaw is coming off. Ellen White is coming on.
03:09 PM77 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
77 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
Lovely counter attack from Chelsea. Ji with a clever ball, Harder with a strong run. Slips it inside to Kerr, who cannot get her shot away. Manages to smuggle it to Reiten, who shoots wide.
03:07 PM75 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
75 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
Ji down in the box, hoping I am sure for the penalty.No.
03:06 PMTom Garry
Tom Garry
"On comes South Korea superstar Ji So-yun for her final appearance for Chelsea after eight hugely successful years at the club. She was one of the WSL's first big overseas imports when she arrived in 2014 and she has not disappointed. What a brilliantly skilful footballer."
03:05 PMCuthbert
What it means! 😍
🔵 2-1 💠 [74'] #CFCW #WomensFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/80h3dlnDSI
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 15, 2022
03:00 PM70 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
Cuthbert
What it means! 😍
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 15, 2022
🔵 2-1 💠 [74'] #CFCW #WomensFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/80h3dlnDSI
03:00 PM70 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
70 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
Chelsea under the pump. Vital intervention from Bright, at the expense of a corner. Chelsea keeper Berger gathers the ball, and then makes a meal of some sort of injury/cramp to eat up half a minute.
02:59 PM69 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
69 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
Ji is coming on for Chelsea, England off. Nouwen off, Charles on.
02:58 PM67 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
67 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
Weir has a crack but Bright blocks.
02:56 PM65 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
65 mins: Chelsea 2 Man City 1
Big chance to equalise for Shaw, but she has got that all wrong and she airshots.
02:55 PMGOAL! Chelsea 2 Man City 1 (Cuthbert 63)
GOAL! Chelsea 2 Man City 1 (Cuthbert 63)
Gorgeous strike! Erin Cuthbert has a look and pops one from 30 yards. Roebuck in the City goal scrambles, but she's not getting there. Top bins! Great hit.
02:53 PM60 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
60 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
Reiten on the left for Chelsea, cuts back, fires it at goal. Deflected behind?
02:49 PM58 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
58 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
Lauren Hemp with a strong run, but Chelsea have a well organised defensive block in place.
02:47 PM55 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
55 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
Bronze has fouled Harder, and is booked.
02:43 PM53 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
53 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
Shaw busy, shoots, Bright deflects that behind for a corner. City dominating at the moment.
02:41 PM51 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
51 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
A spell of pressure for City. Shaw again making her presence felt. That's a good save from Berger in the Chelsea goal.
02:39 PM49 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
49 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
City have a freekick. Greenwood fires that in low. Carter puts that out for a corner.
Chelsea defend that stoutly.
02:38 PM47 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
47 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
City get forward, Shaw with some imposing centre forward hold up play. Slips the ball through and the cross flashes across goal.
02:37 PM46 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
46 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
But it's Chelsea who are on the front foot - Reiten of Chelsea cuts in from the right and floats a nice wee ball in.... Good anticipation and authority from City keeper Roebuck.
02:35 PMCity will kick off
City will kick off
in the shape of Bunny Shaw.
02:30 PMSome beefy challenges in that half
02:20 PMTom Garry on the goal
Some beefy challenges in that half
02:20 PMTom Garry on the goal
Tom Garry on the goal
"It's a fine individual goal from Lauren Hemp - who could well be the big star of this summer's home Euros for England - but you also have to question the defending from her Lionesses team-mate Millie Bright there. She just wasn't tight enough, she's been beaten far too easily there. The Manchester City fans away to the right of the press box have livened up now. The atmosphere has just started to go a little flat, but now the noise levels have picked right back up."
02:19 PMHalf time: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
Half time: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
The two best teams in the country have produced a decent, committed game of football so far. Lots of big tackles.
02:19 PM44 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
44 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
Nouwen runs across Shaw, who goes down in the area screaming for a pen. Ref does not share her view.
02:17 PM43 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
43 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 1
City re-energised. Stanway drives forward. She uses Bunny Shaw as a decoy runner. Shoots. Blocked, shoots again, deflected behind for a corner. There were claims of a handball against Carter, but not for me Clive.
02:14 PMGOAL! Chelsea 1 Man City 1 (Hemp 42)
GOAL! Chelsea 1 Man City 1 (Hemp 42)
That's more like it from City! Individual brilliance from Hemp. She picks it up on the inside left channel. Bright needs to get tighter here. Hemp cuts inside onto her right, and she has curled that delightfully into the corner of the net.
02:12 PM38 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 0
38 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 0
Harder has a go from range. Chelsea looking the better side now.
02:07 PM36 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 0
36 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 0
Shaw catches Eriksson late.
Tom Garry writes: "That's 18 goals in 16 games for club and country for Sam Kerr, who is the world's leading centre-forward on current form. Is there no stopping her?
The stadium announcer somewhat tried to - they were quick to credit the goal to Millie Bright, but that's surely going to be officially credited to Kerr.
02:07 PM35 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 0
35 mins: Chelsea 1 Man City 0
Kelly takes the ball off Roebuck, the ball flies to Reiten 30 yards out. She tries the lofted shot with the keeper out of position. Too high.
02:04 PMGOAL! Chelsea 1 Man City 0 (Kerr 32)
GOAL! Chelsea 1 Man City 0 (Kerr 32)
Mille Bright with a lofted cross, City keeper Roebuck has flapped at that, Sam Kerr nods in at the back post from a foot out. Poor from the keeper.
02:03 PM32 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
32 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Chelsea play the ball in, it's cleared, but not fully...
02:03 PM31 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
31 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Alanna Kennedy is the first woman into the book. She kicks Harder in the quadricep, then body checks her, Lucy Bronze finishes the job by bundling the Chelsea player over.
02:00 PMWeir has had a couple of chances
01:56 PM24 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Weir has had a couple of chances
01:56 PM24 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
24 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
City have, and waste, a freekick and Chelsea look to break upfield.
01:55 PM23 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
23 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Weir, who has missed a couple of chances already, has an opportunity to shoot but looks instead to offload.
01:54 PM22 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
22 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
After that hot start from City, this has settled down into a bit of a cagey affair. Emma Hayes said it would be a chess game.
01:52 PM21 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
21 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Cuthbert late into a tackle and has clipped Shaw, who needs some treatment.
01:49 PM18 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
18 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Good physical battle between Chloe Kelly and Magdalena Eriksson
01:48 PM17 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
17 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Against the run of play Sam Kerr has it in the net for Chelsea but that's clearly offside.
01:48 PM15 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
15 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Nice bit of old fashioned wing play from Kelly, drops the shoulder, goes on the outside. Gets her cross in.
Georgia Stanway catches Chelsea's Pernille Harder. Sore.
01:44 PM13 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
13 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Some big tackles flying in. Bright and Stanway both putting in some powerful challenges that the ref isn't happy with.
01:40 PM9 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
9 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Chelsea starting to take control of the game, blunting that sharp start from City.
01:39 PMBit of broadcast news
01:36 PM4 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Bit of broadcast news
01:36 PM4 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
4 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
City have started well. Another chance. Chelsea back off the runner, Stanway slips the ball out to the left. Hemp cut back inside and shot, it was blocked and Weir then hit the follow-up shot wide.
01:33 PM3 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
3 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
An early chance for City - but Weir has blazed over.
Tom Garry: "Chelsea are the favourites but Manchester City have been the form team since the turn of the year and they're going to make this a terrific contest. Watch out for Chloe Kelly, in particular, this could be a breakthrough afternoon for the Manchester City winger, fit-again after a lengthy knee injury. She's looked really sharp in recent weeks and a big performance here today could be enough to earn her a spot in the England squad for the Euros.
01:33 PM2 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
2 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Looks like Chelsea have a back three, and then one sitting in front.
City team: Roebuck, Bronze, Kennedy, Greenwood (C), Stokes, Walsh, Stanway, Weir, Kelly, Hemp, Shaw Subs Keating, Coombs, Angeldahl, Raso, Park, Losada, White, Mace, Blakstad
01:32 PM1 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
1 mins: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Lots of attacking quality, both sides on long winning streaks. Should be a good game. Chelsea have the ball and are playing it around at the back.
01:28 PMPlenty of attacking talent for Chelsea
Plenty of attacking talent for Chelsea
England and Kerr up front, an attacking line up.
01:27 PMThe players come together
The players come together
for a photo with a Ukraine banner. They anthems have been sung. Let's get to it.
01:24 PMThe teams are coming out onto the pitch
The teams are coming out onto the pitch
Blue flags abound.
01:23 PMBlue letter day
All #ManCity fans who purchased their #WomensFACup final ticket through the club have been sent a personalised letter from head coach Gareth Taylor, together with their tickets, thanking them for their "unbelievably loyal and dedicated" support this season. Nice touch
— Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) May 14, 2022
01:22 PMHeavyweight clash
The only times that either Chelsea or Man City have lost a game so far in 2022 are when they have faced each other. Even just for that reason alone, this should be an excellent #WomensFACup final
— Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) May 15, 2022
01:12 PMOn the way to Wembley
01:11 PMMan City manager Gareth Taylor
Blue letter day
All #ManCity fans who purchased their #WomensFACup final ticket through the club have been sent a personalised letter from head coach Gareth Taylor, together with their tickets, thanking them for their "unbelievably loyal and dedicated" support this season. Nice touch
— Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) May 14, 2022
01:22 PMHeavyweight clash
The only times that either Chelsea or Man City have lost a game so far in 2022 are when they have faced each other. Even just for that reason alone, this should be an excellent #WomensFACup final
— Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) May 15, 2022
01:12 PMOn the way to Wembley
01:11 PMMan City manager Gareth Taylor
Heavyweight clash
The only times that either Chelsea or Man City have lost a game so far in 2022 are when they have faced each other. Even just for that reason alone, this should be an excellent #WomensFACup final
— Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) May 15, 2022
01:12 PMOn the way to Wembley
01:11 PMMan City manager Gareth Taylor
On the way to Wembley
01:11 PMMan City manager Gareth Taylor
Man City manager Gareth Taylor
"It is about what you bring to the team in the role you are given. We leave to other people questions about favourites/underdogs".
12:53 PMTwo possible doubles on the table for Chelsea today
Two possible doubles on the table for Chelsea today
One, the Double they actually want: adding the FA Cup to the League.
Two, the Double they do not want: joining their male counterparts in Cup Final defeat.
12:43 PMCity team
🔵 #WomensFACupFinal Team News 🔵
XI | Roebuck, Bronze, Kennedy, Greenwood (C), Stokes, Walsh, Stanway, Weir, Kelly, Hemp, Shaw
SUBS | Keating, Coombs, Angeldahl, Raso, Park, Losada, White, Mace, Blakstad#ManCity | @HaysTechnology pic.twitter.com/aKBToYyuw4
— Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) May 15, 2022
12:42 PMChelsea team
Your Chelsea team! 🤝#CFCW | #WomensFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/zoHNbEkElv
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 15, 2022
12:42 PMTeam news
City team
🔵 #WomensFACupFinal Team News 🔵
— Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) May 15, 2022
XI | Roebuck, Bronze, Kennedy, Greenwood (C), Stokes, Walsh, Stanway, Weir, Kelly, Hemp, Shaw
SUBS | Keating, Coombs, Angeldahl, Raso, Park, Losada, White, Mace, Blakstad#ManCity | @HaysTechnology pic.twitter.com/aKBToYyuw4
12:42 PMChelsea team
Your Chelsea team! 🤝#CFCW | #WomensFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/zoHNbEkElv
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 15, 2022
12:42 PMTeam news
Chelsea team
Your Chelsea team! 🤝#CFCW | #WomensFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/zoHNbEkElv
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 15, 2022
12:42 PMTeam news
Team news
Chelsea change two from the side that beat Man United last week to clinch the title.
Aniek Nouwen and Beth England in. Niamh Charles and Jonna Andersson out.
One change for City: Demi Stokes in, Julie Blakstad out.
12:37 PMChelsea manager Emma Hayes
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes
Emma Hayes believes Chelsea will have to be prepared for a "chess match" against Manchester City in what is anticipated to be the largest crowd for a Women's FA Cup final.
Chelsea are bidding for a domestic double, having already captured a third successive Women's Super League crown, and give a fitting farewell to outgoing trio Ji So-yun, Drew Spence and Jonna Andersson.
But while Chelsea defeated City in both WSL matches this season, Gareth Taylor's side have been rejuvenated in recent months and prevailed when the teams met in the Continental Cup final in March.
Hayes therefore knows City have the ability to frustrate Chelsea in a game for which more than 50,000 tickets have already been sold at Wembley Stadium, with the current record attendance for a Women's FA Cup final standing at 45,423 - when the Blues beat Arsenal in 2018 at the same venue.
"This is a chess match," said the Chelsea boss. "We've got our strengths that could expose them and they've got theirs that could expose us and that's what you want from a football match.
"I just know I've got a plan and it's important for the team to realise we have to suffer, too. They possess the ball very well and we're not always going to have it, so we'll have to be disciplined.
"Everyone in this dressing room knows how good those players are. We knew the setbacks were temporary, and everyone in my dressing room rates Manchester City.
"This is a team that this second half of the season have been absolutely outstanding. The women's game wins again on Sunday, hopefully with a record crowd and two amazing teams full of talent."
Hayes has already confirmed Fran Kirby will be available for the defending FA Cup champions after training all this week - although she cautioned not to expect too much from the England forward ahead of this summer's European Championship.
"Fran knows herself well enough now at this stage that she will want to be 100 per cent if she's to play for England in the summer," said Hayes of Kirby, who has been sidelined since February because of a fatigue-related issue.
"If she's not, she'll be the first to admit it because she doesn't want to let the team down.
"I've learned to take it one week at a time. I didn't think she'd be available this week, let's put it that way."
Manchester City go into the final in good nick, having won 21 of their last 23 matches in all competitions and are currently on a 13-game unbeaten stretch, which helped them earn a third-placed finish in the WSL to secure Champions League football next season.
Their unbeaten spell also includes lifting the Continental Cup after beating Chelsea 3-1, and City boss Taylor praised his players for continuing to maintain their focus throughout this period.
He said: "We have one more opportunity to keep building on it, to stretch our unbeaten run.
"We've always just focused on the next game and what that game is - whether it's a Conti Cup game or WSL game, an FA Cup game - I think we've been really good at maintaining the focus and not getting too excited about what that game is and what potentially we could do.
"The group of staff have done really well and the players have kept their focus and again, we're not going into a situation we haven't been in before I think that gives us the confidence, a calmness, and we're just really looking forward to the game on Sunday."
Taylor also revealed that Demi Stokes and Jess Park are back in contention ahead of the final, while Karen Bardsley, Esme Morgan and Steph Houghton are still sidelined.