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Matildas face off in Wembley FA Cup final

Australians internationals Sam Kerr, Alanna Kennedy and Hayley Raso will meet at Wembley in Sunday's Women's FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City.

ALANNA KENNEDY.
ALANNA KENNEDY. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

For the second Women's FA Cup Final in succession, there will be Australian celebrations at Wembley, with the only question being who wears the smiles.

Last year, Sam Kerr scored twice to earn Chelsea victory over an Arsenal side featuring Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley.

Kerr is back at Wembley on Sunday, this time to face the Manchester City side featuring fellow Matildas, Alanna Kennedy and Hayley Raso.

Kerr is in devastating form with 11 goals in nine matches, including two Women's Super League-title clinching volleys against Manchester United last weekend.

Chelsea captain Magda Eriksson said on Friday: "Sam Kerr is incredible. She has been consistently performing. She has brought her level in every game and that's why she's won the golden boot."

But City have won every match since Kennedy and Raso returned in February from playing for Australia in the Asian Cup, including the 3-1 defeat of Chelsea in the League Cup final.

Even then, however, Kerr scored and Kennedy conceded: "We have to be able to stop the service higher up the pitch, prevent her getting the ball."

More than 55,000 tickets have been sold, which if they all turn up, would be an English club record gate for a women's match.

They will include Kerr's family who have come over from Perth for the game.

"My brother, two friends, my mum and dad are coming," she said. "They all weren't going to come and then they thought, 'Stuff it, what are you saving your money for?' You never know when your next time at Wembley will be."

Kerr added: "I'd play at Wembley every week if I could. When the fans pack it out it's an amazing experience."

It's Kennedy's first match at Wembley while Raso was on the losing side when City beat Everton in 2020.

Between them, City and Chelsea have won six of the last seven finals, the exception being 2016 when an Arsenal side managed by Australia's Joe Montemurro won.

They have three apiece and it's impossible to predict who will be first to four.

An injury-hit City struggled in the first half of the season but recovered well enough to take third and a Champions League spot.

"It was tough with the injuries but it was always the mentality of the team to stick together. We've persevered and just got better and better," said Kennedy.

"Whenever there's a trophy on the line, this team lifts," responded Kerr.

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