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Emily Keogh
Multiple Authors
KINGSTON, England — In a preview for the League Cup final set for March 15 between Chelsea and Manchester United, Sam Kerr played a crucial role in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over their rivals in the FA Cup quarterfinals. However, Chelsea will miss their star forward for the final as she’ll be participating in the Asian Cup with the Australian national team.
After spending 72 minutes without a traditional striker—USWNT’s Alyssa Thompson filling in the center—Kerr came off the bench and made an immediate impact, scoring within six minutes to not only celebrate her 150th appearance but also securing a vital lead with a goal that deflected off the post.
Kerr has a strong record against United, scoring nine goals in ten encounters. After overcoming a serious ACL injury that sidelined her for 22 months, she displayed glimpses of her former self during the match against United.
Even after Kerr’s remarkable opener, Simi Awujo quickly equalized for United, exploiting a defensive lapse by Chelsea. Nevertheless, Kerr’s relentless pressure on the United defense eventually set the stage for Chelsea to secure the winning goal, which was scored by Naomi Girma in extra time.
However, Chelsea will be without both Kerr and vital right back Ellie Carpenter for approximately four weeks if Australia advances in the Asian Cup. They will miss critical fixtures, including the League Cup final on March 15 and the Women’s Super League match against London City on March 21, along with a possible Champions League quarterfinal clash with Arsenal on March 24, depending on their travel and recovery timing post-tournament.
Presently, Kerr is Chelsea’s only fit striker, as injuries have sidelined Catarina Macario and Mayra Ramírez, while Aggie Beever-Jones has also missed time due to an ankle injury. Despite her reduced role and limited starts in the WSL, Kerr remains the go-to choice for critical goals—having scored 30 match-winning goals, with 10 in finals.
Against United, Chelsea’s tactics proved sufficient, yet the visitors struggled to maintain their energy levels early on, highlighting their fatigue. This lack of stamina is not unexpected given the demanding schedule they are navigating.
United, in their inaugural season, advanced to the UWCL quarterfinals after defeating Atletico Madrid. However, managing both UWCL rigors and a challenging domestic league has presented challenges for their squad.
Though they held their own against Chelsea, the strategy of ceding possession limited their counter-attacking opportunities. This approach worked in the past—such as their semifinal victory over Chelsea in the 2024 FA Cup—but fatigue and the extra time forced them to rely on a last-gasp appeal for a handball that was disregarded.
Despite the FA Cup setback, United’s journey to the UWCL quarterfinals and League Cup final marks a successful season, even if they finish lower than top three in the WSL. Yet, missing out on a league title while facing top European teams like Real Madrid or possibly Barcelona will carry its own implications.
With table leaders City maintaining an eight-point lead over United and a nine-point advantage over Chelsea, both teams must now refocus their efforts on securing a top-three finish and gearing up for the League Cup final.
As they prepare for the next encounter, Chelsea must adjust to the losses of Kerr and Carpenter, while United will have to balance their focus between the upcoming Bayern match and domestic challenges. The landscape of their next meeting will likely be quite different.