Chelsea vs Man City LIVE: Women’s League Cup last newest rating and objective updates
Chelsea and Manchester City meet in the Women’s League Cup final to kick off a run of four clashes between the teams in just 12 days.
The first silverware of the season is up for grabs at Pride Park in Derby as Chelsea look to get over the line after three consecutive defeats in the Women’s League Cup final and City aim to win their first trophy since last winning this competition three years ago.
City made the shock decision to sack Gareth Taylor just five days ago, with former boss Nick Cushing taking over as interim. He will do battle with Sonia Bompastor, who has taken Chelsea to the top of the Women’s Super League since replacing Emma Hayes and now looks to win her first trophy with the Blues.
Chelsea and City’s players are going to be very familiar with each other at the end of the month: the teams will meet in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, with a WSL fixture also scheduled before the return leg next week.
Who will strike first? Follow live updates from the Women’s League Cup final, below.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
36 mins: Chelsea have scored but it’s been their impressive defending that has kept them ahead.
City are the more aggressive side but Chelsea’s back four are so in sync that they’re covering each other superbly.
That’s been the difference between the teams so far as City have created enough chances to shoot.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
33 mins: Opportunity for Man City after Shaw is brought down outside the box.
The free kick is floated into the box by Fowler but Hampton comes out to punch the ball away.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
30 mins: Shaw and Fowler combine on the left side of the final third for Man City.
Lucy Bronze is out of position and allows Fowler to get in behind.
Fowler chips it across but Bright is back to block and cover for her England teammate.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
27 mins: City are the more fluid and smooth team when in possession.
They’re controlling play for the most part but are missing that clinical edge in the final third.
Chelsea are more direct.
As if on cue, Mayra Ramirez makes a run in behind as the ball is sent long. She collects it and drives into the box before before forced wide by Ayaka Yamashita.
The forward takes the ball around the goalkeeper and should score but she laces her efforts into the side netting!
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
24 mins: It’s a wonderfully open game, made possible by both teams looking to press high up the pitch and committing numbers forward. Chelsea lead but Manchester City have arguably been the better side. They’re the team who have been able to build sustained pressure.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
24 mins: Chance!
Chelsea are very dangerous when given space to operate in.
They swept the ball across the pitch and get it to Lauren James who dances into the box.
From a decent angle she hits one but there’s no way past the goalkeeper.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
21 mins: There’s more of an urgency from Man City now.
One-touch passing to work the ball quickly through midfield and find Shaw just outside the box.
She spins, shoots and wins another corner.
This one is played short and snet back to Aoba Fujino. She checks to the left inside the box and fizzes a shot at goal only for Hampton to deny her!
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
18 mins: Leila Ouahabi whips a corner into the penalty area but Chelsea work it clear.
Man City recycle the ball quickly and send it to the edge of the box.
Ouahabi has drifted inside and shoots first time.
Her low curling effort looks to be sneaking in but Hannah Hampton leaps across and tips the ball wide of the post.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
15 mins: Man City started the game on the front foot but that gaol has hampered their confidence.
Mary Fowler tries to wrestle back some momentum and offloads the ball to Bunny Shaw.
She weaves past three defenders then shoots only for Millie Bright to deflect the effort.
