Three first-half goals help Chelsea progress into the WSL Cup final with Man United win

Chelsea Women 3-1 Manchester United Women: Three first-half goals help Blues progress into the WSL Continental Cup final with a comfortable win over the Red Devils

  • Chelsea seal a 3-1 victory over WSL rivals Manchester United in the WSL Cup
  • The Blues will face Manchester City or Tottenham Hotspur in the cup final
  • Goals from Pernille Harder, Jessie Fleming and Jess Carter sealed the win


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Chelsea are through to a third successive Continental League Cup final after a 3-1 semi-final victory over Manchester United.

The Blues, who won the competition against Arsenal in 2020 and Bristol City in 2021, have the chance to make it three in a row in next month’s final at AFC Wimbledon’s Plough Lane.

‘I really enjoyed it. I knew it was coming, I have to be honest,’ Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said of her side’s performance. 

‘I’ve seen the growth of this group this side of Christmas and I feel like we’re going from strength to strength.

Chelsea sealed a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the WSL Cup to seal a place in the final

Chelsea sealed a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the WSL Cup to seal a place in the final

Chelsea sealed a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the WSL Cup to seal a place in the final

Jessica Carter (left) scored for the Blues as they beat the Red Devils in WSL Cup semi-final

Jessica Carter (left) scored for the Blues as they beat the Red Devils in WSL Cup semi-final

Jessica Carter (left) scored for the Blues as they beat the Red Devils in WSL Cup semi-final

Pernille Harder scored for Chelsea who will now face Manchester City or Tottenham in the final

Pernille Harder scored for Chelsea who will now face Manchester City or Tottenham in the final

Pernille Harder scored for Chelsea who will now face Manchester City or Tottenham in the final

‘It was the togetherness of everything we did, the way we pressed, the way we sat in, the way we went forward together. I thought it was such a dominant display by us.’

United went into off the back of seven straight wins and clean sheets in all competitions while Chelsea were unbeaten in four and had Sam Kerr back on the bench after her return from the Asia Cup.

In the end, the Blues’ firepower proved too much and United sorely missed the creativity of Ella Toone, who was serving a suspension after picking up two yellow cards earlier in the competition. Midfielder Hayley Ladd was also suspended.

MATCH FACTS

Chelsea (4-3-3): Musovic, Carter, Bright, Nouwen, Andersson (Spence 85), Charles, Ingle, Cuthbert, Fleming (Kerr 68), Reiten (Abdullina 89), Harder (James 85)

Subs not used: Berger, Claypole, Thompson, Kirby

Booked: Bright

Goals: Harder 26, Fleming 31, Carter 39

Manager: Emma Hayes

Manchester United (4-3-3): Baggaley, Battle, Thorisdottir, Mannion, Blundell, Groenen (Fuso 67), Zelem, Ria, Galton, Thomas (Bruun), Russo (Earps 79)

Subs not used: Harris, Caldwell, Hanson, Smith, Jones

Booked: None

Sent off: Baggaley

Goals: Risa 32

Manager: Marc Skinner

Referee: Paul Howard  

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And United boss Marc Skinner believes the rules on suspensions need to change. United played five games before the semi-final while Chelsea entered at the quarter-final stage due to their participation in the Champions League.

‘The rules need to change for next year, we were at a disadvantage tonight,’ Skinner said.

‘We’ve played five games up to the quarter-final in this competition before this game and two players accrued two yellow cards in that moment and are out of the semi-final.

‘Chelsea entered the competition at the quarter-final because of course they were in the Champions League and can’t accrue the same amount of cards so we’re put at a huge disadvantage. We had three WSL teams in our group.

‘Something needs to be addressed with that just to make sure there’s fair opportunity for us to progress with most of our players because it’s just not okay. It’s something that needs to be changed for next year.’

Both teams struggled in the early stages. United had the first real chance when Vilde Boe Risa’s cross picked out Martha Thomas, but the striker’s header was easily caught by Chelsea goalkeeper Zecira Musovic. Pernille Harder then fired over from inside the box at the other end.

But the game came to life mid-way through the first half with four goals in 13 minutes, three of which were scored by the home side.

Chelsea took the lead through Harder when the striker latched onto Guro Reiten’s through ball before selling Aoife Mannion a dummy and rounding goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley to finish into an empty net.

‘I think she was due that,’ Hayes said on Harder’s goal. ‘She’s had to play in this period back-to-back like Fran [Kirby] and played many different roles.

‘I think for her own confidence that goal was important. She’s had to play as 9, not necessarily her natural position but she plays it well.

‘I thought she turned Mannion inside out for the goal. I thought she was a threat all night, she was a pest, she is a pest.’

Jessie Fleming then put the Blues 2-0 ahead shortly after. Reiten’s shot at the back-post was blocked by Ona Batlle but the rebound fell to Fleming, whose header bounced into the ground and over Baggaley.

But United halved the deficit less than a minute later when Risa latched on to a Groenen back-heel before curling a finish into the bottom right corner.

At that point it was game-on but Jess Carter, who ran all the way from the half-way line to meet Reiten’s cross and finish past Baggaley.

Chelsea could have had a penalty shortly after the hour mark when Harder went to ground under a challenge from Maria Thorisdottir but referee Paul Howard showed no interest in pointing to the spot.

Kerr, who was brought on for the final 20 minutes, should have put the game to bed when she was picked out by Harder in the box, but the striker could not apply the finish

Any hopes of a United comeback were dashed when Baggaley was sent off after clattering into Kerr just outside the box. 

The goalkeeper was caught in no man’s land as she hesitated over whether to come for Harder’s ball over the top. 

Kerr got there first and Baggaley could only send the forward tumbling to the ground, leaving referee Howard no choice but to produce a red card.

Lauren James came off the bench in the final five minutes and almost grabbed a goal against her former side but her shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Batlle.

Both teams have huge league games coming up with United travelling to Arsenal on Saturday before Chelsea host Manchester City on Sunday. United then play City and Chelsea host Arsenal the weekend after. 

But it will be Hayes’ side who have an extra spring in their step ahead of a congested month of fixtures. 

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