Fran Kirby and Sam Kerr starred as Chelsea completed a belated domestic treble with a 3-0 win over Arsenal in a landmark FA Cup final at Wembley.
Kirby’s third-minute goal belied the Blues’ dominance by half-time but Kerr made up for a series of squandered chances with a second-half double (57, 77) – including a brilliant chip – as Emma Hayes’ side claimed the trophy for the first time since 2018 in a 50th anniversary fixture delayed by the pandemic.
Hayes declared Kirby and Kerr, who both hit the crossbar, “out of this world,” and the damage would have been greater had Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger not pulled off a further string of saves.
The Gunners had claimed a statement victory against the defending WSL champions on the opening day of this season but were outclassed on the big stage, with their chief goal threat Vivianne Miedema a peripheral figure.
