Reigning FA Women’s Continental League Cup champions Chelsea overcame their toughest test of their defence so far as they defeated Manchester United 3-1 at Kingsmeadow this evening.
The game was all but over in the opening 45 minutes as Chelsea scored three goals in 13 first half minutes against a team who hadn’t conceded in more than 630 minutes prior to tonight’s fixture.
The scoring got underway when a long ball over the top found Pernille Harder and although Aoife Mannion looked to have recovered, the Dane showed some neat footwork to demonstrate why she is one of the best players in the world. With both Mannion and the onrushing Sophie Baggaley bamboozled, Harder had a simple finish to give her side the lead.
Chelsea then extended their lead when Jessie Fleming got her head on a high ball in the area. The Canadian international’s downward header bounced up high into the goal beyond the reach of Baggaley who could merely claw at the ball.
Chelsea seemed to have taken a firm grasp of the tie with that two-goal lead, however, the away side responded almost immediately. A sublime backheel from Jackie Groenen on the left wing fed in Vilde Bøe Risa who let rip from a narrow angle to beat Zećira Mušović and half the deficit.
That glimmer of hope quickly faded as Chelsea worked the ball out wide to Guro Reiten who was in acres of space and she had the time to pick out the run of Jess Carter in the area. The England international struck the ball with ferocious power leaving Baggaley with no chance to extend the hosts’ cushion once again.
The Blues went in at the break with one foot in the final thanks to their commanding lead over The Red Devils, giving them the best opportunity to retain their trophy.
The away side were undone once again by a long ball over the top in the second half and it was a race between Sam Kerr and Baggaley to reach it. The Chelsea forward arrived at the ball first and although Baggaley subsequently got a touch on the ball, she flattened Kerr in the process. A free-kick was awarded to the home side and the referee brandished a red card for Baggaley, making United’s task of overcoming their opponents nigh on impossible.
Chelsea were unable to make their numerical advantage count in the remaining minutes but ended the match 3-1 winners. Emma Hayes’ side now march on to next month’s final in Wimbledon where they will face either Manchester City or Tottenham Hotspur.