No Sam Kerr has meant no Women’s FA Cup glory for Chelsea this year, but another Matilda now has the chance to live the dream in the Wembley final showpiece with Tottenham Hotspur.
Charli Grant came on as a late substitute for Spurs as they were losing 1-0 to Leicester in the first semifinal against Leicester City.
The Australian defender helped them battle back and earn a 2-1 win with less than three minutes left in extra time.
Chelsea clearly missed injured goalscoring talisman Kerr, who has scored five goals in three Wembley triumphs over the past three seasons, as they suffered their first-ever defeat to Manchester United 2-1 in the second semifinal away at Leigh Sports Village.
Chelsea were eyeing a “quadruple” haul of trophies just a fortnight ago in manager Emma Hayes’s farewell season.
However, after a League Cup final defeat and now this shock reverse, their season is in danger of unravelling without their best player, Kerr, who’s recovering from an ACL injury.
But Grant will be relishing the chance to play in the biggest match in the English women’s game after being introduced late into the semifinal action following a recent spell where she’s been benched by Spurs and not seen any playing time.
Again sidelined, the 22-year-old from Adelaide was part of a triple substitution in the 77th minute with Spurs trailing and their dream dying against a Leicester side that had led from the 12th minute when Jutta Rantala drilled home a beauty.
Grant helped provide fresh impetus as Robert Vilahamn’s side set up a dramatic finale when Jessica Naz grabbed an 83rd-minute equaliser, capitalising on a miskick from Leicester’s former Spurs captain Josie Green.
Then, with a penalty shootout looming after Rantala hit the bar from a free-kick in extra time, substitute Martha Thomas proved Spurs’ late, late hero, heading home her 10th goal of the season in the 118th minute to see them through to their first Wembley final.
It was, according to Ange Postecoglou, who has reinvigorated the men’s team, an historic day for Spurs.
Before the semi, the Australian had heaped praise on the women’s Swedish boss Vilahamn, saying: “Rob and the girls have been outstanding this year. Rob’s come in and changed a lot of things, and I can see they’re building a lot of belief.
“It’s great for them — and great for our club.”
In the other semi, Spanish winger Lucia Garcia headed Manchester United into the lead in the first minute before former Chelsea forward Rachel Williams added a second in the 23rd minute.
A Lauren James goal before the break threw Chelsea a lifeline and the visitors went on to dominate the second half while again seeming to miss the cutting edge of their Cup ace Kerr.
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AAP
