Sam Kerr says she was ‘fired up’ to score for Chelsea in Women’s FA Cup final
Sam Kerr didn’t like the criticism of her winning a major award, so she had a point to prove in the Women’s FA Cup final.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr has admitted her match-winning goal for Chelsea in the Women’s FA Cup final was fuelled by a desire to prove her doubters wrong.
In front of a Wembley crowd of 77,390 – a record attendance for a domestic women’s football match – Kerr’s second-half goal was enough to secure Chelsea a 1-0 win over Manchester United.
It was Chelsea’s third successive Women’s FA Cup crown, with Kerr’s celebrations after scoring including her trademark backflip.
“The occasion just needed a backflip, didn’t it?” Kerr said after the game.
“I had been asked for it by a few friends, so it was the day.”
It was also “the day” for Kerr to again prove she is one of the world’s best women’s players after there was some criticism of her winning the Football Writers Association player of the year award for a second successive season.
“I’m very honoured to win that award,” Kerr told reporters after the match
“Maybe people weren’t as happy about it, but come every big game, I’m here.
“I think a lot of people still doubt me. No matter how many goals I score, no matter how much I do for the team, no matter how many big games where I score, people always doubt me and that kind of fired me up today.
“It’s a very humbling award, and I’m very proud to win it.”
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said Kerr was “priceless”.
“I’ve never coached a player like Sam Kerr,” she said.
“She has such conviction, confidence, courage, the way she attacks everything. I love that she’s willing to take responsibility at the top end of the pitch.”
Kerr also told Optus Sport the experience of playing in front of almost 80,000 fans was a timely reminder of what she was expecting at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which starts in July and is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
“I’m excited to play on home soil at a home World Cup,” she said.
“Our Aussie fans are amazing. They always get behind the ‘Tillies’ so we’re so pumped to be home and representing ‘Oz’.”
Manchester United manager Marc Skinner was left to lament his side’s costly lapse which allowed Kerr to score in the 68th minute.
“We switch off in one moment, (and) there’s space for Sam to run into, which we haven’t given her all game,” United manager Marc Skinner said.
“Chelsea have done hardly anything in the game, but they are winners for a reason; they find that tiny little gap.”
Kerr and Chelsea’s attention now switches to an English Women’s Super League clash on Thursday morning (AEST) against West Ham.
A Chelsea win would move them two points clear of United at the top of the table.
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