WOMEN’S football’s most expensive signing Fran Kirby scored a dramatic late goal in extra time yesterday to ensure her team would return to Wembley to defend their FA Women’s Cup title against Arsenal next month.
It was a fitting moment, with Kirby having missed out on a winner’s medal last year after signing too late to play in the final. Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said that “it feels better than last year.” Her tactical changes — bringing on Kirby and switching to a back three — transformed the game after City took the lead.
A match littered with duels between England international, teammates only five days ago in Bosnia, made for a curious mixture of respect and rivalry.
City dominated the possession but without many chances in a tight first half. At the start of the second, Nikita Parris began to stretch the returning Claire Rafferty as Chelsea were penned back. Jane Ross, a new signing from Glasgow, followed up her decisive early-season goals by giving City a deserved lead. Kosovare Asllani drilled in a low corner, which Toni Duggan flicked into the six-yard box, Ross scrambling home from close-range.
Hayes responded instantly by bringing on Kirby for Karen Carney and the Super League champions immediately looked more threatening. Ji So Yun, who scored the semi-final winner against City last year, came back to haunt them, swinging a low free-kick beyond the flailing Karen Bardsley.
Chelsea continued to look threatening at the start of extra time, with Kirby scheming in the lines between City’s defence and midfield, creating a chance for Eniola Aluko, which she side-footed straight at Bardsley.
Gemma Davison also began to produce her best form in the second half, narrowly missing the target from long range after a thrilling slalom before Kirby exchanged passes with Ji and fired past Bardsley.
“I was nervous before I hit it,” she admitted.
A devastated Steph Houghton felt her team had been the better side and didn’t agree with the FA’s decision not to play the semi-final at a neutral venue.
Kirby, who was disappointed not to have started, was asked if she had dreamt of coming on and scoring. “In my dreams I scored a hat-trick!”
*orginally published in Morning Star Online London edition
