Chelsea crowned back-to-back Champions

Chelsea took on Manchester United at a sold-out Ashton Gate in Bristol for the Subway League Cup Final. Manchester United reached the final after beating Arsenal 1–0 away from home thanks to a goal from Elisabeth Terland. The Blues also won 1–0 on their trip to the blue side of Manchester, setting up this showpiece final.

Chelsea kicked off in the South West through Lauren James, and early pressure from the Blues quickly resulted in a corner after some great play down United’s left-hand side from Chelsea’s number 10. Sandy Baltimore took the corner short, but United were able to dispossess and break quickly with a great run, forcing Hannah Hampton into an early save and earning a corner of their own.

The opening five minutes of the final looked evenly matched, but it was Kadeisha Buchanan who made a crucial tackle as the ball was played through to Terland, who was almost in on goal for what is her first start in 15 months.

Terland soon had another opportunity, firing a shot at the Chelsea goal that drifted wide of Hampton’s post. It was a lively opening ten minutes in Bristol, with Manchester United creating the better chances.

Keira Walsh then drove Chelsea forward well, with James delivering an excellent cross that failed to find a target. However, the second phase of play saw Johanna Rytting Kaneryd attempt a shot of her own, which went just over the crossbar with 15 minutes played.

A 50/50 challenge then fell Chelsea’s way, but Erin Cuthbert couldn’t react quickly enough and United saw another chance go begging as Ellen Wangerheim failed to hit the target.

Chelsea soon broke down the right flank, with Kaneryd finding Lauren James. The forward shifted her way into the box before getting her shot away and finishing superbly into the United net to give Chelsea a 1–0 lead in the cup final after 18 minutes.

Manchester United responded well, with Melvine Malard playing an excellent ball across goal after battling with Lucy Bronze, but no United player could get on the end of it.

Wangerheim then did well to battle with Bronze again before finding Jessica Park, whose shot was hit straight at the Chelsea goalkeeper.

Veerle Buurman helped preserve Chelsea’s lead with a huge block, but United quickly regained possession and Terland fired another powerful effort just wide of the goal as United continued to respond strongly after going behind.

Ten minutes before half-time, Terland struck the crossbar with a powerful shot following sustained United pressure. The move began with Wangerheim breezing past Bronze before finding Park at the edge of the box. Park played the ball into Terland, who cleverly laid it off for Malard, but the Dutch youngster Buurman once again produced an important block.

Chelsea then had a big chance to double their lead in the 37th minute. Kaneryd played an excellent ball into the box which initially missed Lauren James, but Cuthbert reacted first to the loose ball, only to send her effort off target.

An exceptional piece of defending from Maya Le Tissier followed soon after as Walsh picked out

Alyssa Thompson through on goal. The United captain timed her challenge perfectly just as Thompson looked ready to shoot, keeping United in the final just before half-time.

One additional minute was added at the end of the first half. United pushed for an equaliser and almost found it after some fantastic play down the right-hand flank. Melvine Malard managed to get past a stubborn Baltimore before crossing into the box, but Wangerheim couldn’t find the target from five yards out.

Chelsea therefore went into the break leading the final 1–0, with League Cup final newcomers Manchester United having work to do in the second half.

Half Time: Chelsea 1–0 Manchester United