Sam Kerr scored two goals for Chelsea, assisting the team's progression to the Women's FA Cup fifth round. The match took place on Saturday against WSL2 side Crystal Palace, which Chelsea won 5-0. Kerr was named player of the match.
Kerr has previously scored five goals across three Women's FA Cup final victories. In this match, she scored her first goal in the 22nd minute, making the score 2-0. Her second goal came six minutes after halftime via a header, assisted by Guro Reiten from a cross.
Manager Sonia Bompastor substituted Kerr just after the hour mark, replacing her with Ellie Carpenter. This prevented Kerr from achieving her first hat-trick since returning from an ACL injury in September.
Kerr's goals brought her season's tally to nine. She is the English champion's leading scorer despite missing the start of the season and often playing as a substitute.
In a pre-match club website interview, Kerr stated that she had scored or assisted in previous games before Christmas and that she felt "getting better and better" with increased playing time. She noted feeling like herself during the Wolfsburg and Liverpool games.
These goals were Kerr's first in the Women's FA Cup since scoring the winning goal in the 2023 final against Manchester United. She had scored two goals in each of the two preceding finals.
Other goal scorers for Chelsea included Millie Bright in the 13th minute, Guro Reiten from a penalty before the half-hour mark, and Alyssa Thompson with the fifth goal in the 70th minute.