The Dane came off the bench to set up Sam Kerr for the Blues' winning goal at Wembley on Sunday, giving them a third Women's FA Cup title in a row
Sam Kerr was once again the match-winner at Wembley on Sunday as the Chelsea star scored the only goal to defeat Manchester United in the Women's FA Cup final. It was a goal set-up for her by Pernille Harder, who changed the game for the Blues from the bench and could've been on the scoresheet herself moments earlier.
But this was a final as tight as the 1-0 scoreline suggested, with United having plenty of chances before the deadlock was broken.
GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Wembley…
Getty ImagesWINNER: Pernille Harder
When Harder came off the bench just before the hour mark, it felt like a substitute that could change the game. It was indeed.
Within minutes, she almost scored from her first touches of the ball, and soon after that she set up the game's first goal, playing a perfect pass across the box for Kerr to finish.
The Dane's contract expires this summer and all signs point to her leaving the club, with Bayern Munich having been recently linked with signing her. This, then, was a memorable contribution to add to her successful spell in London.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Leah Galton
Another star of United's excellent season, Galton thought she'd opened the scoring in the first few seconds on Sunday, but was to be denied by the offside flag.
A huge chance would come her way again in the first half, United's biggest of the game, but she could not convert Alessia Russo's cross from close range.
The one that fell to her in the dying moments was more difficult, as Ann-Katrin Berger spilled a cross at her feet, but there's no doubt she'll be thinking about that one before the break for a while. It could've changed the entire day had she buried it.
GettyWINNER: Sam Kerr
The Queen of Wembley. That should be Kerr's official title at this point.
Ahead of this game, she expressed her love for the iconic venue, one fuelled by her success at it. "I’ve never been there and not won a trophy," she said. "Fingers crossed this weekend is the same."
Thanks to her strike, it was. This was Kerr's fourth trip to Wembley and it brought with it her fifth goal and her fourth trophy. The Chelsea star is the woman for the biggest occasion and she continues to prove that time and time again.
Getty ImagesLOSER: Marc Skinner
United head coach Skinner has done some excellent things this season. After all, it's he and his team that sit top of the Women's Super League.
But his substitutions on Sunday raised plenty of eyebrows. Nikita Parris was her team's stand-out player but would barely make it past the hour mark as Rachel Williams came on in her place. She didn't complete a pass in the final third in her 30 minutes on the pitch.
With just over 10 minutes to go, he then opted to replace Ella Toone with Aoife Mannion. The England international had been one of United's most creative players and, ticking into the final stages, felt like someone who could create something. It was another one that was questionable, as was the decision to wait until stoppage time to bring on centre forward Martha Thomas.
That Emma Hayes brought on Harder with such perfect timing was quite the contrast, though United are not at the stage yet of having the luxury of a world-class talent like that among their subs.