Manchester United fell to a 3-0 defeat against Chelsea in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley, missing the chance to cap off a strong season with silverware. Despite lifting the trophy last year, United couldn’t overcome a dominant Chelsea side.
Marc Skinner started Phallon Tullis-Joyce in goal with a defensive four of Aoife Mannion, Maya Le Tissier, Millie Turner and Gabby George ahead of her.
Dominique Janssen and Hinata Miyazawa were deployed in the midfield pivot, with Grace Clinton in the 10 position. Elisabeth Terland led the line with Celin Bizet and Leah Galton on either side of her.
First half
United started the game as the much better side, pinning Chelsea back inside their own half and pressing aggressively as they looked to force them into making mistakes.
United had two good opportunities to hurt Chelsea, first from a corner kick, which Hannah Hampton palmed off her line, and then from a free kick.
As the game went on, Chelsea settled and grew into the game a bit more. Sandy Baltimore in particular was a real threat and was causing Mannion all sorts of problems. Mayra Ramírez was also a good outlet for Chelsea and helped get them higher up the pitch.
Aggie Beever-Jones found her way through on goal and Lucy Bronze flicked on a header over the United defence but Tulis-Joyce closed down the angle and saved it. United’s best chance of the half fell to Janssen after Chelsea failed to clear a Terland cross, but the midfielder aimed it over the crossbar.
Chelsea then came close to breaking the deadlock as Ramirez skipped past a few defenders and broke into the box but Turner and Tullis-Joyce combined to prevent her from finding the back of the net. Galton also got a crucial touch.
A few minutes later, Beever-Jones spun on the edge of the box and fired the ball but Tullis-Joyce easily gathered it.
Moments before the break, Chelsea were awarded a penalty after Bizet was judged to have illegally brought down Erin Cuthbert inside the box. Tullis-Joyce attempted some mind games in an effort to throw off Baltimore but the Chelsea star made no mistake from the spot, slotting it into the bottom left corner.
Second half
With United trailing, Skinner withdrew Turner and brought on Ella Toone. Terland nearly drew United level with a header but she couldn’t quite direct it past Hampton.
The Reds started the second half as they did the first – bright and positive. Toone was presented with a good chance to score but her half-volley effort was stopped by Hampton.
Galton went down under a challenge from Lucy Bronze. She appeared to be in pain and needed medical attention. She soldiered on and continued playing. United nearly self-destructed at the back, with George almost turning a Chelsea cross into her own goal. Luckily, it went wide.
Skinner looked to his bench again and made another attacking change – Melvine Malard for Mannion. George also required medical attention but unlike Galton, she couldn’t carry on and had to be replaced by Anna Sandberg.
With the clock ticking, United were struggling to create any meaningful chances and they didn’t really lay a glove on the Chelsea defenders, who were very comfortable.
In a last roll of the dice, Skinner introduced Lisa Naalsund and Rachel Williams. The two replaced Miyazawa and Bizet.
However, it was Chelsea who got another goal and doubled their advantage. Catarina Macario rose the highest to nod in Baltimore’s free-kick.
Chelsea added a third in added time via Baltimore, who expertly controlled a cross into the box and turned Naalsund before firing past Tullis-Joyce, who had no chance.
United have had an excellent WSL campaign, but their FA Cup final showing will leave a sense of disappointment. They struggled to make a real impact against Chelsea and never truly threatened.
Featured image Julian Finney via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
