Chelsea’s Fran Kirby scooped The SSE Women’s FA Cup Player of the Round award yesterday after her last minute goal kept the team’s dream alive.
Kirby came off the bench at Wheatsheaf Park to bring Chelsea back from the brink in their semi-final match against Manchester City on Sunday April 17.
Thanks to Kirby’s late strike, holder’s Chelsea will face fierce rivals, and 13 time winners, Arsenal in the final at Wembley on Saturday May 14.
Kirby said: “It’s great to win the award, it was an amazing end to match. City are obviously a top side so to beat them and reach the SSE Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley is really special and I’m sure we are good enough to lift the trophy again.”
City went ahead after the break when Scotland’s Jane Ross tapped home from close range, sparking Chelsea manager Emma Hayes to bring England’s Kirby off the bench.
After Gilly Flaherty was brought down on the edge of the box, a curling free-kick from South Korea’s Ji So-Yun forced the game into extra time.
The gritting match seemed destined for penalties until Kirby snatched victory in the 120th minute with a low finish taking the Blues into their second consecutive FA Cup Final.
Kirby, who joined Chelsea from Reading in 2015, was ineligible to play for Chelsea in last year’s final.
Well done to @FranKirbyy – the SSE Women’s FA Cup Player of the Round after scoring the winner v Man City! #CLFC pic.twitter.com/c2o0bcvkaT
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) April 25, 2016
Tickets for the final are on sale now via TheFA.com/Tickets or by calling 0844 826 2010.
Image courtesy of SSE, with thanks
