Chelsea deny Manchester United Women historic first League Cup title
Manchester United Women suffered a second consecutive defeat against Chelsea, losing 2-0 in the Women’s League Cup final at Ashton Gate Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
United had previously lost 2-1 to the Blues in the Women’s FA Cup fifth round last month.
Marc Skinner’s side created the game’s first genuine chance as Elisabeth Terland forced Hannah Hampton to make a save inside the second minute.
Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 19th minute following a defensive blunder. The ball fell nicely to Lauren James, who dribbled into the box before tucking the ball home.
Just after the half-hour mark, Terland rifled a shot from range, but her effort could not trouble Hampton.
Shortly after, the Norwegian striker came close to levelling the score. She rifled a powerful shot towards goal, but the outstretched Hampton denied her.
Ellen Wangerheim squandered a golden chance to restore parity before the break, guiding Melvine Malard’s cross beyond the face of goal.
United began the second half strongly, but it was Chelsea who recorded the first real chance. Julia Zigiotti Olme made a vital block to deny Aggie Beever-Jones’ goalbound shot.
Beever-Jones eventually doubled Chelsea’s lead in the 76th minute, poking Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s precise cross into the far corner.
James nearly added a third in the 85th minute with a well-struck shot, but goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce was equal to the task.
United came close to clawing one back in stoppage time. Hampton quickly came off her line to deny Malard from close range before Lucy Bronze made a goalline clearance.
With the result, Man United missed the chance to win the Women’s League Cup for the first time and become just the fourth team to lift the trophy.
Article written by Henry Thornton .