Chelsea defeated Manchester United 2-1 after extra time on Sunday to progress to the next round of the FA Cup. Goals from Sam Kerr and Naomi Girma were enough to continue their efforts to retain their crown despite Simi Awujo’s late leveller in normal time.
The two sides had met in each of the previous three editions of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup and this was the fourth season in a row. Manchester United beat Chelsea in Emma Hayes’ final campaign as Blues boss but that result is flanked by defeats at Wembley to the Blues for United in the showpiece final.
Most recently Chelsea completed a magnificent treble with a 3-0 victory under the arches last May. Much has changed since then but Chelsea and Manchester United’s penchant for a domestic final is one thing that hasn’t. The two sides will face off in a month’s time in the Subway Women’s League Cup final.
Sonia Bompastor explained pre-match that Millie Bright would not feature until after the international break due to a persistent knock on her ankle. Kadeisha Buchanan returned to a matchday squad for the first time in 469 days on Sunday, a welcome boost for the hosts. Chelsea made only one change from the side that beat Liverpool 2-0 last weekend in the Barclays Women’s Super League. That saw Lucy Bronze return to the side ahead of Sandy Baltimore who was subbed off at halftime last weekend. Lucy Bronze started at centre back with Veerle Buurman pushed out to the left.
Manchester United also only made one change to the side that beat Atlético Madrid 2-0 on Thursday evening. Lea Schüller dropped to the bench and Ellen Wangerheim led the line for the visitors. Both Jayde Riviere and Anna Sandberg remained unavailable through injury.
The Lineups
CHE: Hampton; Carpenter, Bronze Girma, Buurman; Cuthbert, Walsh, Nüsken; Kaneryd, James, Thompson
MUN: Tullis-Joyce; Janssen, Turner, Le Tissier, Lundkvist; Zigiotti, Miyazawa, Naalsund; Park, Malard, Wangerheim
The Action
Chelsea began the cup tie with intent, inside the first couple of minutes they had a number of shots on goal blocked down. Before the tenth minute, United hit back with their first effort as a ball whipped into the box from Hanna Lundkvist was met by the head of Melvine Malard who headered harmlessly into the arms of Hannah Hampton. Phallon Tullis-Joyce was called into action for the first time shortly after. Alyssa Thompson was found in space in the box, but her effort that sought the top corner was palmed away exceptionally by her international team mate.
Hampton was forced into a save of her own shortly after as Jess Park hovered on the edge of the box. Her cross-come-shot was pushed away by the England number one. And it was Park again who threatened the Chelsea goal with 25 minutes on the clock. Receiving the ball in space at the back post Park took a touch, before connecting well with her shot but the ball soared over the bar.
As the clock crept towards 30, Ellie Carpenter flew down the wing her cross was vicious and placed in a nightmarish area for Tullis-Joyce. The US keeper, at full stretch, tipped the ball wide and away from danger. Tullis-Joyce was swiftly stating her case for player of the match. Erin Cuthbert received the ball on the edge of the box and hit the ball true but Tullis-Joyce got down well to her right to stop it. The resulting corner caused chaos in the box, with the ball bouncing around before Dominique Janssen blasted clear.
Chelsea were ramping up the pressure in the lead up to half time. A well worked move saw Buurman in space, who showed great close control but couldn’t find the far corner cutting inside onto her right foot. As the moments ticked down in the first half Chelsea’s next opportunity came when a ball threaded in behind found Lauren James running through on goal. There was a hint of offside but the flag stayed down, Tullis-Joyce made an excellent save to prevent the home side from taking what would have been a deserved lead.
Thompson was continuing to find space in behind the United back line, giving Janssen all kinds of headaches. She found space again at the start of the second half but her effort, cutting onto her left foot was straight at Tullis-Joyce. United had perhaps their most consistent spell of pressure after that, with Lisa Naalsund’s effort from the edge of the box, blocked. Another corner from United saw Buurman block a header on the line from Malard.
Manchester United nearly had the lead after Park won the ball on the edge of the Chelsea box. Wangerhiem gave her an option and vitally some space before Park let fly from 30 yards out rattling the post. United were finding a groove as Wangerheim cushioned a ball with her head for Malard on the edge of the box but the strikers shot was wayward.
Chelsea took the lead with just over ten minutes to play. A lofted ball into the box was met by a flick on from Veerle Buurman whose header found Sam Kerr. Kerr expertly hooked the ball back of the net bouncing off the post past Tullis-Joyce. Shortly after taking the lead, Manchester United struck back against Chelsea. A lofted ball into the box from a free kick initiated a scramble in the box before the ball found the feet of Simi Awujo who fired home.
Maya Le Tissier almost caught Hampton out from a deep free kick with the England number one struggling with the sun. Le Tissier’s long ball, that should have been dealt with easily had to be palmed out for a corner. Lucy Bronze came close from distance to regaining the lead for Chelsea before full time. Her effort from distance went just wide of the post.
In extra time Chelsea pushed to restore their lead, Guro Reiten, introduced off the bench fired wide from distance. A series of corners followed and eventually they paid dividends. A great header from Buurman was stopped by Tullis-Joyce but she could only redirect it into the path of Naomi Girma who toe poked home. Basil conducted the Blues orchestra from the stands as Chelsea looked to be heading to the next round past Manchester United.
Manchester United had chances in extra time, Park’s shot was deflected and gratefully gathered by the Chelsea goalkeeper. Lea Schüller had an effort on target with her head but it was comfortable for Hampton to deal with. There was a late penalty call for United after a shot looked like it was deflected off a Chelsea players arm but the referee waved away the protests. Despite Tullis-Joyce pushing into the box late on for every set piece United were unable to find a leveller.
Chelsea Player Ratings
GK: Hannah Hampton – 6.5/10 – Distribution was great in the first half but hampered by the sun in the second. Did not have a huge amount to do.
RB: Ellie Carpenter – 7/10 – Marshalled the threat of Malard well in this one early on but Malard gradually got the better of her. A great battle between two of the league’s best.
RCB: Lucy Bronze – 7.5/10 – Lost possession a couple of times early in this one. Settled into the game and was her usual consistent self.
LCB: Naomi Girma – 8/10 – Scored the winner after being in the right place at the right time, her first for the club. Made the most defensive contributions for the home side.
LB: Veerle Buurman – 9/10 – Made a couple of excellent challenges on Park. It was an interesting battle on that side with two footballers who are likely to meeting many more times in their careers. Made a goal saving block on the line in the second half and nabbed an assist, also played a big part in the second Chelsea goal.
CM: Erin Cuthbert – 7/10 – Had a couple of speculative efforts on goal from distance that kept Tullis-Joyce on her toes. Kept Chelsea moving forward with a number of positive dead balls into the box.
CM: Keira Walsh – 7/10 – Tracked back really well as time ticked down in the match helped keep Chelsea ticking.
CAM: Sjoeke Nüsken – 6.5/10 – Drifted into the striker the position often creating an allusive target for the United defence as well as at times the Chelsea attack.
RW: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – 6.5/10 – Always a threat with her pace in behind but came off at half time after struggling to get much joy out of Janssen.
LW: Alyssa Thompson – 7.5/10 – Had the first real chance of the match, was only denied by an excellent save. She created the most chances of any player in her time on the pitch. A livewire for the home side but faded in the second half.
ST: Lauren James – 7/10 – Tracked back well in the early parts of the first half and created a number of chances was another player whose presence faded in the second period.
SUBS
Sandy Baltimore (46′ Kaneryd) – 6/10 – Did well to beat her marker more than once but her delivery into the box left a lot to be desired at times. Made more mistakes than Chelsea are used to seeing.
Sam Kerr (71′ Thompson) – 8/10 – Came on and did exactly what was required of her, finding the back of the net. Was part of some excellent interplay in extra time.
Kadeisha Buchanan (91′ Bronze) – 7/10 – The Canadian returned to the field of play for the first time since 2024, she did not look like she’d ever been away.
Wieke Kaptein (91′ Nüsken) – 7/10 – Injected some energy and a fresh threat for United to deal with. Tracked back to support Carpenter in her battle to contain Malard extremely well.
Guro Reiten (91′ James) – 7/10 – Reiten looked intent on making a difference in this one, nearly finding the top corner within minutes of coming on.
Manchester United Player Ratings
GK: Phallon Tullis-Joyce – 9/10 – Made an exceptional save inside ten minutes from her international team mate to keep the scores level. She was the reason Manchester United remained in with a shout until the very end.
RB: Hanna Lundkvist – 7.5/10 – Demonstrated great consistency of performance on her flank, much of the best Chelsea attacking play came from the other side of the pitch.
RCB: Maya Le Tissier – 7.5/10 – Le Tissier was exceptional from the dead ball, so consistent and alert to danger.
LCB: Millie Turner – 7.5/10 – Another staunch defensive display from Turner who has returned from injury and looked as if she never left.
LB: Dominique Janssen – 6.5/10 – Covered well for an early Chelsea opportunity when Johanna Rytting Kaneryd looked clean through. Struggled to deal with Thompson’s pace.
CDM: Hinata Miyazawa – 7/10 – Positive in stepping up and making interceptions, will be hugely missed when away in Australia for the Asia Cup.
CM: Julia Zigiotti Olme – 7/10 – Did a good job screening the defence for United, was withdrawn in the second half ahead of Naalsund.
CAM: Lisa Naalsund – 7/10 – Made a number of key tackles in the game, helped hold the intensity in attack in the second half.
LW: Melvine Malard – 7.5/10 – Made more successful dribbles than any other player, won more duels than any other player on the pitch.
RW: Jess Park – 8/10 – Tested Hampton early on with a speculative effort. Kept the ball in spaces where she should not have been allowed to. Should have scored or at least hit the target when found in space in the first half, was denied a goal of the season contender by the width of the post.
ST: Ellen Wangerheim – 6.5/10 – Had a tough time getting involved in the first half but was better in the second period, creating space and opportunity up front.
SUBS
Elisabeth Terland (69′ Wangerheim) – 6/10 – The Norwegian striker was largely anonymous after coming on.
Simi Awujo (69′ Zigiotti Olme) – 7.5/10 – Made an impact and scored an important goal to draw her side level.
Gabby George – (106′ Turner) – 6.5/10 – Did not have a huge amount to do with her side chasing the game, did what she needed to do well.
Lea Schüller – (106′ Naalsund) – 6/10 – Had an effort on target from a free kick but it was easily dealt with.
Layla Drury – (111′ Miyazawa) – 6/10 – Had an awful first touch on the pitch and struggled to have any impact.
