Erin Cuthbert can't help but smile when recalling her stunning goal from the 2022 Women's FA Cup final. By her own admission, the fiery Ayrshire native has not scored many since her move into a less-advanced midfield role a year-and-a-half ago. But, always a player for the big occasion, she made sure she brought her shooting boots for last year's showpiece event at Wembley Stadium.
With the scores level at 1-1, Beth England tapped the ball into her path. Cuthbert was well outside the box, but only had one thought in her mind. After giving herself half a yard of space to take a swing, she unleashed an unstoppable strike that flew past Ellie Roebuck in the Manchester City goal, with the ball bouncing down off the crossbar on its way in.
"What a moment that was for myself personally," Cuthbert tells GOAL. "I don’t normally score that many goals so that was one to remember, especially when it hits the crossbar, comes down and then hits the top of the net. That really is pretty good going. I was pretty buzzing with that."
Although Hayley Raso would equalise for City at the death, a battling extra-time performance from Chelsea saw them clinch the trophy without having to endure the lottery of a penalty shootout. It was the type of gritty performance that has characterised Emma Hayes' side in recent years, and few players typify this win-at-all-costs mentality more than Cuthbert, who is now into her seventh season at Kingsmeadow.