Sam Kerr tastes glory as Chelsea beat Arsenal in League Cup final

Sam Kerr played a big role in Chelsea’s winning goal in stoppage time that secured the Blues their maiden League Cup title.

Chelsea’s Sam Kerr, left, and Ji So-yun celebrate with the trophy following the FA Women's Continental League Cup final against Arsenal. Picture: Getty Images

Matildas star Sam Kerr played a big role in Chelsea’s winning goal in stoppage time that secured the Blues their maiden Women’s Continental League Cup title.

Chelsea defeated Arsenal 2-1 in front of a record final crowd of 6743 at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground.

The Gunners, with Kerr’s national teammate Caitlin Foord in their starting line-up and Australian Joe Montemurro as manager, are the record five-time winners and have now lost the past two finals.

Watch the biggest matches of the Emirates FA Cup LIVE with ESPN on KAYO. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Chelsea striker Bethany England opened the scoring in the eighth minute, before Leah Williamson replied for Arsenal five minutes from time to seemingly have the match destined for extra time.

However, Kerr beat her defender to help conjure an opening in the second of five added minutes, which resulted in England stabbing home her 21st goal of the season.

It was heartbreak for Arsenal, who had dominated the game despite being without a number of key players through injury, to such an extent Montemurro could only name five substitutes rather than the regulation seven.

After losing to Chelsea twice in the league this season, including a humbling 4-1 home defeat in January, the writing appeared to be on the wall for the Gunners when England grabbed an early opener.

Guro Reiten’s cross was met at the far post by a header back into the danger area by Maren Mjelde, with England turning onto a loose ball to fire home from eight yards as the Gunners failed to clear.

Arsenal had the better of the game and the chances but Chelsea had their goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to thank for keeping the Gunners at bay.

Foord teed up an opportunity in the first half before she went close with an effort that rifled into the side netting.

The Gunners controlled the game in the second half and after going close on more than one occasion eventually equalised with academy product Williamson scrambling home from close range.

Yet it was England that settled the game as she was on the end of a move that started with Kerr managing to evade her marker and play in Erin Cuthbert for a cross.

PA