FRAN KIRBY paid an emotional Mother’s Day tribute to her late mum Denise after helping Chelsea crush Bristol City in the Conti Cup final.
Kirby’s brace – and FOUR assists – and a Sam Kerr hat-trick were among the goals that saw the league champs seal an emphatic 6-0 victory- the largest marginal win in the competition’s history.
Fran Kirby scored twice and paid an emotional tribute to her late mum on Mother’s DayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Magdalena Eriksson (left) and Millie Bright (right) lift the League Cup trophy after their 6-0 romp over Bristol CityCredit: Rex Features
But the result was overshadowed by Maren Mjelde being carried off on a stretcher.
The Norway skipper shrieked after appearing to twist her knee following an innocuous challenge from Aimee Palmer.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said: “Maren is at the hospital and I think we will probably have to wait until the pain subsides before they can do a scan.
“I don’t have any update.
“Maren is a hugely popular member of our team and a mother hen who is admired by all.
“I think everyone is really devastated for her that she couldn’t celebrate with us at the end”
After signing a new deal last week Kirby said it was nice that the club wanted to keep her.
Given her six-goal contribution, it is hard to imagine Chelsea letting her go.
hat-trick hero Sam Kerr and her team-mates enjoyed wild celebrations after the final whistleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Sam Kerr was drinking in the atmosphere after her scintillating performanceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The England ace pointed to the sky in honour of her mother for the celebration of her first goal.
When Fran was 14, her mother died suddenly from a brain haemorrhage.
Hayes added: “I wrote a card to every player this morning for Mothering Sunday, including Fran and Carly.
“I think it’s pertinent to say how difficult it could be for them and I understand that even more now I’m a mum
“I thought she (Fran) was amazing today.
“She always is. I don’t think you can underestimate the impact of losing a mum at that age
“I have always felt the one thing Fran needed from me rightly or wrongly was the maternal eye and that was the commitment I made to myself about what I was going to do for her.”
The champs snatched a second-minute lead with Reiten finding space to release Kirby on the right to tee up Sam Kerr’s tap-in.
The deadly duo combined again eight minutes later, this time with Kerr turning provider for Kirby to net Chelsea’s second.
Emma Hayes has now lifted five League Cup trophies with the BluesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
There was no let-up from the Blues who picked up their third goal moments before the half-hour mark.
And it was Kirby on target again this time capitalising on Sophie Baggaley’s misplaced pass to chip in her second.
And she went on before setting up Sam Kerr to register her brace in the 35th minute.
City began the second-half with more impetus.
And they had a couple of decent chances to reduce the deficit with Ebony Salmon stinging the palms of Ann-Katrin Berger in the 57th and 70th minutes.
But any hopes the Robins had of not conceding any further goals were blown away by Sam Kerr’s sealing her hat-trick in the 48th minute.
A Guro Reiten tap-in, with Kirby unselfishly sliding a pass to the midfielder, wrapped up a 6-0 demolition.
Robins boss Matt Beard said: “I felt we showed them a little bit too much respect early.
“If you look where they are and where we are, there’s a big gap there.
“With the position, we’ve been in in the past year or so, they deserve an awful among of credit for getting here.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
