In a repeat of last year’s final where Chelsea emerged as 1-0 winners courtesy of Sam Kerr’s winning finish, the reigning champions of the competition- who have never lost a head-to-head match against Manchester United-recalled Guro Reiten to the Starting XI following their defeat to Arsenal in the FA Continental Tyres League Cup final.

Considering the Red Devils had never experienced the taste of victory on their footballing palates, manager Marc Skinner surprisingly left top-scorer Nikita Parris and Brazilian international Geyse on the substitutes’ bench, with former Chelsea player Rachel Williams, as well as Leah Galton, both getting the nod. 

MUN: Earps; Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell; Naalsund, Zelem; Toone, García, Galton; Williams 

CHE: Hampton; Périsset, Carter, Buchanan, Charles; Leupolz, Cuthbert; Reiten, Kaneryd; James, Ramírez 

With eyebrows raised concerning his team selection coming into the match at Leigh Sports Village – with the winners set to face Tottenham Hotspur in the final after Robert Vilahamn’s side’s extra-time victory over Leicester City – his decision was justified after just 41 seconds. Ominously travelling down the left-hand side, the recalled Galton showcased for all to see why she deserved a place in the hosts’ starting line-up by producing a delicious delivery into the danger zone that was headed home at the back post by Lucía García. 

Unbelievably, in a carbon copy of the game’s opening goal, United doubled their lead in the 23rd minute as Williams came back to haunt her former employers as she headed home another delightful delivery into the penalty area past Hannah Hampton.

With half-time firmly on the horizon, Lauren James saw her backwards glancing header turned behind by Mary Earps. However, the Lionesses number one was helpless to prevent the former United player from halving the deficit almost immediately after , as James clinically converted from close range following brilliant build-up play all the way from Hampton’s goal. 

Determined to get back on level terms as soon as physically possible after the restart, Earps once again denied James in stunning style, as she leapt off the ground in salmon-esque fashion to redirect her fellow Lionesses’ effort out of play for a corner. With the added insurance of VAR not on the menu for today’s game, Chelsea were denied a penalty not long before the hour-mark as Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s strike struck United captain Katie Zelem on the arm. 

Earps continued to put in a match-winning performance as she denied Mayra Ramírez at her near post amid a hat-trick of United yellow cards in quick succession, and second-half Chelsea substitute Catarina Macario hitting the bar with an audacious attempt to celebrate an Olimpico goal.

Ultimately, Skinner’s side would hold on until the sound of the final whistle- including eight minutes of agonising second-half stoppage-time – to not only register their maiden head-to-head victory but more importantly, a trip to Wembley Stadium next month for the Adobe Women’s FA Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur.