Kerr scores but Matildas duo get last laugh in ‘incredible’ Arsenal cup glory

Matildas captain Sam Kerr scored first, but it was her fellow Australians in Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley who had the last laugh in England’s Women’s League Cup final.

Kerr gave Chelsea the lead in just the second minute with a strong header at a sold-out Selhurst Park, home of Premier League side Crystal Palace, but it was Arsenal who came out 3-1 victors to end a four-year trophy drought.

Catley and Ford both started for Arsenal, who hit back in the 16th minute through a composed low strike from Stina Blackstenius.

In the 24th minute, Kim Little converted a penalty when Katie McCabe was brought down by Sophie Ingle in the area.

And just before halftime, Catley whipped in a dangerous corner that was deflected into the net from Chelsea fullback Niamh Charles.

Foord should have earned another penalty for Arsenal on the hour mark when she was taken down by Kadeisha Buchanan, but there was no VAR in use to help the referee.

Nevertheless, the Gunners comfortably saw out victory and earned revenge on Chelsea, who knocked them out of the FA Cup in the fifth round one week ago.

A ‘super happy’ Foord told BBC: “It’s incredible – to finally win a trophy with this club is something special.

“Today we just wanted to leave everything out there and show what we can do. That’s what we can do and what we want to continue to do.”

“That’s what we’re aiming for, winning trophies. It’s worth being freezing in the champagne shower – no complaints, super happy.

“It’s been four years since we won a trophy and it’s well overdue. We wanted to leave everything out there and we wanted to show what we can do and we want to continue to do that.”

Foord also shared her thanks for the Australian fans, saying: “I love you guys – thank you for waking up at 3am or whatever it is to watch.”

Arsenal’s manager Jonas Eidevall was full of praise for the Aussie stars, saying: “They were excellent today.

“Some players been here for several years and have a lot of memories and been close but not winning, so I am really happy for them.”

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Matildas attacker Remy Siemsen made her debut for Leicester in the Women’s Super League, scoring for the Foxes in a 5-1 defeat to Manchester United.