Cup final heartbreak for United Women as they are rolled over 2-0 by arch nemesis Chelsea

Manchester United Women faced Chelsea in their first ever League Cup final at Ashton Gate, Bristol. First half The Red Devils had to wait until the 11th minute for their first attempt at goal. The ball broke kindly to Elisabeth Terland but the Norwegian’s shot skewed wide. Chelsea responded and Lauren James’ strike drifted harmlessly wide. Lovely work from Julia Zigiotti set up Ellen Wangerheim, but her effort tamely rolled along the ground and into the hands of Hannah Hampton in the Blues’ goal. United shot themselves in the foot when Dominique Janssen mistimed a back pass that was cut out by Lauren James. The former United player darted in and coolly finished past Phallon Tullis-Joyce to give Chelsea the lead after 19 minutes. Marc Skinner’s side breathed a big sigh of relief shortly after when Maya Le Tissier cannoned the ball off Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, but luckily the ball drifted just wide of the goal. Terland responded for United, but her shot from range went about a foot wide of the post. The Norwegian was by far United’s biggest threat, and she would have equalised if it were not for Hampton’s brilliance in the Chelsea goal. She somehow managed to dig Terland’s effort out of the top corner and maintained the Blues’ lead in the final. Chelsea responded and Alyssa Thompson broke free of the United defence and looked destined to score. Le Tissier had other ideas, though, as she raced back and pulled off a wonderful goal-saving tackle. United missed a golden chance to level the scores on the cusp of half-time when Melvine Malard crossed the ball into the box, but Wangerheim managed to turn her effort wide when it looked easier to score than miss. The half-time whistle blew, and United had 45 minutes to turn the final around. Second half United started the half well, and Malard’s audacious bicycle kick missed the target. Unfortunately, they failed to create many clear-cut chances, and Tullis-Joyce had to punch away Sandy Baltimore’s corner before Zigiotti blocked Aggie Beever-Jones’ shot. James just missed the upright with her follow-up effort. After 76 minutes, Aggie Beever-Jones delivered the killer blow as she toe-poked the ball past Tullis-Joyce to give the Blues a 2-0 lead. Chelsea smelled blood and almost had a third, but United’s American keeper saved well from James. In the 94th minute, Malard thought she might have halved the deficit, but Hampton made a stunning stop from close range to keep her clean sheet. Chelsea saw the result through, and it was heartbreak once again for United in a final against the Blues. The Red Devils will aim to bounce back against West Ham United on Wednesday evening. Feature image Michael Campanella via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.