Valiant City edged out in League Cup final

Manchester City’s gutsy League Cup final display proved to be in vain as we were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea.

Mayra Ramirez grabbed the opener inside eight minutes when she bundled home Chelsea’s first real attack of the game.

But Aoba Fujino deservedly pulled City level just after the hour with an excellent solo effort after Nick Cushing’s side had piled on the pressure leading up to the goal.

But a late own goal from Yui Hasegawa meant it was Sonia Bompastor’s side who came out on top in heartbreaking circumstances.

What happened

Two sides famed for their abilities on the ball would need to show a different side to their game on a difficult Pride Park surface.

A late challenge from Millie Bright on Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw inside the first two minutes set the tone for a battling affair and, despite City starting brightly, it was Chelsea who drew first blood.

A cleverly disguised ball in behind the defence by Lauren James was met by Ramirez who, despite seeing her initial effort saved by Ayaka Yamashita, got to the rebound to tap home from close-range.

It was harsh on City, but Nick Cushing’s side rallied and went close to an equaliser when Shaw’s effort after a mazy run was blocked at the vital moment by Bright.

Hannah Hampton was called into action for the first time soon after, touching Leila Ouahabi’s first-time effort around the post, before Fujino stung the Chelsea ‘keeper’s palms with a vicious drive from a tight angle.

City had been the better team leading towards the half hour but were given a massive let off when Ramirez raced onto a ball in behind and rounded Yamashita, only to see her effort hit the side netting under pressure from Laia Aleixandri.

That one chance went against the general trend of the half though, with City piling the pressure on the Chelsea goal.

Shaw and Bright’s ongoing battle continued with the Chelsea captain blocking the Jamaican’s path to goal as she shaped to shoot.

It was a similar story in the early stages of the second half, but Sonia Bompastor’s side were the first to go close, as Yamashita made an excellent one on one stop to deny Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.

Just after the hour, though, City finally found the net.

Nick Cushing’s side had just been lacking that final moment of quality at Pride Park, but it eventually came when Fujino punished Chelsea for standing off her as she raced towards goal.

Having danced her way through the challenges, the Japan international rifled an unstoppable drive into the net from the right of the box, sending the travelling fans into raptures.

It was just rewards for City, and we could even have got in front soon after when Shaw forced an excellent save out of Hampton after Lucy Bronze had lost possession.

Vivianne Miedema was next to go close, forcing another save from Hampton, but the sucker punch would follow with just over 10 to play.

Chelsea worked the ball well down the City left and, when a searching cross was sent into the box, Hasegawa was the unfortunate player to divert it into the far corner.

It was a cruel way to end a determined display from Nick Cushing’s side, but one that will give us plenty of confidence heading into a UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final with Chelsea this Wednesday at the Joie Stadium.

How we lined up

Ayaka Yamashita started in goal, shielded by a back four of Kerstin Casparij, Gracie Prior, Laia Aleixandri and Leila Ouahabi.

Yui Hasegawa sat at the base of the City midfield, with Vivianne Miedema and Jill Roord given licence to get forward and support the attack.

At the sharp end, Aoba Fujino and Mary Fowler started on the flanks with Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw leading the line as centre-forward.

Chelsea XI: Hampton, Bright (C), Nusken, Ramirez (Kaptein 78’), Cuthbert, Macario (Hamano 74’), James, Bjorn, Baltimore (Charles 87’), Rytting Kaneryd (Beever-Jones 74’), Bronze

Subs: Spencer, Fishel, Lawrence, Kaptein, Jean-François, Brown

City XI: Yamashita, Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri (C), Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Miedema, Roord, Fujino (Park 81’), Fowler, Shaw (Kerolin Nicoli 81’)

Subs: Keating, Layzell, Coombs, Wienroither, Blindkilde Brown, Oyama, Murphy

Up next

It’s a tight turnaround for both teams, with City and Chelsea doing battle once again in the first leg of our UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday 19 March.

Kick-off at the Joie Stadium is set for 20:00 (UK), with the return fixture taking place the following Thursday (20:00) at Stamford Bridge.

Sandwiched between our European commitments is a Barclays Women’s Super League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday 23 March, which kicks off at 14:30.

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