Aston Villa boss Carla Ward has heaped praise on Sam Kerr after she knocked her side out of the Women’s FA Cup, describing the Australian as ‘the best platers in the world’.
Kerr’s second half header was the only goal of the game as Chelsea kept their bid for a third consecutive FA Cup triumph alive on Sunday.
‘A world class player has come up with a big, big moment,’ Ward said in her post-match press conference.
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‘They have one big moment and there she is and that’s what she does best and that’s why she’s the best in the world.’
Starved of opportunities for the best part of an hour, Kerr made her first chance count as she drifted away from Maz Pacheco to the back post before leaping to head Guro Reiten’s cross past Hannah Hampton.
Sam Kerr scored the only goal of the game as Chelsea beat Aston Villa 1-0 on Sunday
Villa boss Carla Ward described the Australian as the best player in the world after the game
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes was similarly impressed with the Australian’s contribution and insisted she was by far the best striker in the world.
‘I’ve never seen a centre forward move as much as her,’ she said.
‘She’s a nightmare to defend. Her energy levels, it’s like she’s a 12-year-old, it’s infectious, but her qualities, that’s her ability.
‘I don’t know a striker in world football that can do what she does, she’s the best.’
Chelsea will face Manchester United at Wembley on May 14 looking to become the first team to win three FA Cups in a row since Arsenal lifted the trophy for seasons on the trot between 2006 and 2009.
And if Kerr’s recent record in the competition is anything to go by, they have a great chance of doing so.
The Australian has scored twice in both FA Cup finals she’s played since joining Chelsea in 2020, netting a double in the 3-0 demolition of Arsenal in 2021 and two more in last season’s 3-2 win over Manchester City.
With injuries to Fran Kirby and Pernille Harder – who was back on the bench against Villa – Kerr’s goals have been even more important for Chelsea this season.
The Aussie has scored eight goals in the Women’s Super League and has found the net five times in the Champions League, keeping the Blues in the running in both competitions.
Kerr’s acrobatic header was the difference between Villa and Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes (right) said no other striker could do what Kerr does
Chelsea trail Manchester United by a point in the league with five matches left but have a game in hand on their rivals and face Barcelona in the semi-final of the Champions League.
‘We’re going for every trophy that we can. We’re Chelsea, we’re not coming to be second,’ Kerr told the BBC after beating Villa.
‘All those injuries have brought us closer together as a squad. We don’t have that many players right now that are fit and healthy so we’ve all got to push each other along.
‘It’s a long season but we’ve done well so far – hopefully it continues.’