Report: Chelsea 2 United Women 0

Three weeks on from last month’s FA Cup tie at Kingsmeadow, decided in Chelsea’s favour in extra-time, it was another agonisingly close contest that wasn’t a true reflection of the scoreline, or the monumental effort put in by those in red.

Marc Skinner made two changes from the side that had started that game, with Jayde Riviere returning after a recent injury in place of Millie Turner. Elisabeth Terland also came in for Hinata Miyazawa, whose Japan side has progressed to the semi-finals of the ongoing Asian Cup.

In front of a competition-record crowd in excess of 21,000, the game was decided by two Chelsea goals in either half – from Lauren James midway through the first and then Aggie Beever-Jones off the bench after the break.

This was still a moment of history for United to take pride in, in the final of this competition for the first time and the performance arguably deserved more.

FIRST HALF

With heavy rain in the moments before kick-off thankfully subsiding into lighter drizzle, Chelsea sought to put early pressure on United. But it was a low Terland shot, struck from distance, that brought the first save of the final a couple of minutes in, as Hannah Hampton turned it behind.

Terland, playing a slightly deeper no.10 role behind Ellen Wangerheim, caught another glimpse of goal with 10 minutes on the clock. The shot was miscued, but the movement and overlapping between our front two was asking real questions of the Chelsea defenders.

James went on to fire a powerful effort not far over the bar for the Blues. But despite enjoying more consistent possession, they hadn’t created clear openings. Hampton was the busier of the two goalkeepers and saved again when Wangerheim’s shot just inside the box lacked power.

It was then a sucker punch when James put Chelsea ahead midway through the first half. Cruelly, she was able to nick the ball from Dominique Janssen near the sideline and then finished one-on-one.

In response, United continued to look threatening. Terland shot again from distance that had the Chelsea goalkeeper worried enough to dive for the ball, before she later hit the bar with a powerful near-post drive that clipped the woodwork as it bounced over.

Chelsea had opportunities to extend their lead, arguably at that stage against the run of play, towards the of the half. Erin Cuthbert’s first-time strike flew off target, before Maya Le Tissier successfully chased down Alyssa Thompson when the American forward was through on goal.

But Wangerheim almost had United level on the stroke of half-time, directing a Melvine Malard cross from the right just the wrong side of the post.

SECOND HALF

The rain cleared as the teams reemerged from the break and a rainbow briefly appeared above Ashton Gate’s east stand. Then, United were then almost immediately level when Lisa Naalsund capitalised on a Chelsea mistake in their own half, seeing her shot parried behind by Hampton.

After Chelsea had threatened a couple of times from corner, the boss opted for a double substitution just shy of the hour mark. Fridolina Rolfo made her return, coming on at left-back, with Lea Schuller replacing Wangerheim up top.

But momentum for either side soon stalled when Chelsea substitute Nathalie Bjorn, clearly distraught after only just returning to fitness, was forced off only five minutes after coming on.

Into the final 20 minutes, Chelsea managed only their third shot on target when Phallon Tullis-Joyce comfortably gathered a left-footed curler from James. And with spaces opening up on the pitch, it still looked as though either side was fully capable of scoring the next goal.

So harsh on United, that was Chelsea, enjoying an element of fortune as the ball dropped at the feet of Beever-Jones after she and Le Tissier had challenged aerially for the original cross. The mild touch was enough to put the close-range effort just out of reach of Tullis-Joyce.

Our no. 91 denied James the chance to add a Chelsea third with a strong near-post save. United then tried to rally in the final stages, including eight minutes of stoppage time. But Chelsea, helped by the two-goal cushion, were able to defend the edge of their box and ultimately close out the game.

MATCH DETAILS

Chelsea: Hampton; Bronze, Buchanan (Bjorn 62 (Kaptein 67)), Buurman, Baltimore; Walsh, Cuthbert (c); Rytting Kaneryd, Nusken, Thompson (Beever-Jones 46); James (Potter 90+1).

Subs not used: Peng, Spencer, Sarwie.

Goals: James 19, Beever-Jones 77.

Booked: James.

United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere (Rolfo 59), Le Tissier (c), Janssen, Lundkvist; Zigiotti (Awujo 86), Naalsund; Park, Terland, Malard; Wangerheim (Schuller 59).

Subs not used: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, George, Turner, Anderson, Drury.

Attendance: 21,619.