Chelsea narrowly defeat Manchester City to set up Women’s League Cup final against Arsenal

Chelsea narrowly defeated Manchester City 1-0 to set up a Women’s League Cup final against Arsenal.

Lauren James gave the visitors an early lead at the Joie Stadium, scoring what turned out to be the match’s solitary goal.

The attack started when Erin Cuthbert dispossessed Yui Hasegawa in midfield, quickly moving the ball onto Mayra Ramírez.

James ran onto Ramirez’s pass at the edge of the penalty box, taking a touch before placing the ball past City goalkeeper Khiara Keating.

Chelsea sat back once they had taken the lead, restricting City to just one shot on target in the first half.

The hosts were afforded more opportunities to score in the second half, but could not convert any of their nine shots on target into an equaliser.

Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was in fine form, producing a number of impressive saves to deny Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp.

City’s hopes of taking the encounter to extra time were briefly reignited when Alex Greenwood appeared to be fouled in the penalty area with just seconds left on the clock, but the referee waved away the players’ appeals.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was full of praise for Hampton, who joined the club at the start of the season.

"Absolutely superb from start to finish," she said. "Game management, she had to come up big in certain moments and she did and it brings confidence to the back line. She’s growing in the Chelsea shirt."

Chelsea’s victory gave them a place in the Women’s League Cup final for the fifth season in the row, although they last won the tournament in the 2020/21 campaign. This year’s final is a recreation of last season’s, which was won 3-1 by Arsenal.

The Gunners thrashed Aston Villa 4-0 in their semi-final, with Stina Blackstenius scoring a first-half hat-trick. Frida Maanum was also on the scoresheet.

Chelsea, who currently top the Women’s Super League table, welcome third-place Arsenal to Stamford Bridge on Friday, March 15.

The two teams will then contest the Women’s League Cup final on Sunday, March 31, at Molineux Stadium.

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