Arsenal Women 3 – 1 Chelsea Women

Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-1 to win the Women’s League Cup for a record sixth time in front of a sell-out crowd at Selhurst Park.

More than 19,000 fans watched at the home of Premier League club Crystal Palace as Arsenal ended a four-year trophy drought and secured their first trophy of the 2022/23 women’s season.

Jonas Eidevall’s side had to come from behind although Chelsea, aiming for a third title in four seasons after losing last year’s final to Manchester City, took the lead when the impressive Sam Kerr headed in a close-range header in the second minute.

Arsenal responded well and deservedly equalized through Stina Blackstenius’ calm finish (16) and went ahead for the first time when Kim Little scored a penalty (24) after Sophie Ingle had brought down Katie McCabe in the box.

Blackstenius thought he had scored Arsenal’s third goal of the game in the 35th minute before his effort was quickly ruled out for offside, but the Gunners extended their lead going into the first half when Chelsea right-back Niamh Charles was adjudged to have had it. got the finishing touch on Stephanie Catley’s corner.

After the break, Caitlin Foord was denied what appeared to be a certain penalty when Kadeisha Buchanan misjudged, but it did not prove decisive as Arsenal went on to comfortably see out the win, although Melanie Leupolz’s stray cross hit the bar for Chelsea late on.

Arsenal trail Chelsea by five points in the Women’s Super League, but this win will give them much-needed confidence ahead of their return to league action against Liverpool on Wednesday.

How Arsenal ended their four-year wait for silverware

England boss Sarina Wiegman, Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham and Blues co-owner Todd Boehly were among a Women’s League Cup record 19,010 in attendance at a Premier League venue, beating last season’s total of 8,000 at AFC Wimbledon.

Arsenal are chasing their first trophy since winning the Women’s Super League title in 2018/19, while Chelsea are hoping to lift the League Cup for the third time.

Chelsea took the lead when Erin Cuthbert crossed to Guro Reiten, whose pinpoint delivery from the left side of the area found Kerr at the far post. The Australian international had connected, his effort nodding to the underside of the woodwork before crossing the line for the opener.

Manuela Zinsberger saved Kerr’s second header before Arsenal went back up the pitch, the breakthrough finally coming when Frida Maanum collected the ball in midfield and headed towards Chelsea’s goal.

A cross into the area deflected off Blues captain Magdalena Eriksson and the ball fell into the path of Blackstenius, who fired a low strike into the bottom left after 16 minutes.

Eight minutes later the Gunners were in front. McCabe was brought down in the area by a clumsy tackle from Ingle and referee Kirsty Dowle pointed straight to the spot. Skipper Little stepped up, making no mistake when he sent Ann-Katrin Berger the wrong way with a low effort into the bottom left corner.

Blackstenius almost made it three when he just missed getting his head on the ball at the near post, while it took a great effort from Rafaelle Souza to chase down Kerr – flanked by two red shirts – to reduce the threat posed by the Blues forward. .

Both teams got a scare when McCabe drove into the area and collided with Berger as he came out to collect a high ball. Two players remained on the field to receive medical treatment but were eventually deemed fit to continue.

Delay, however, added to what proved to be a critical four minutes of added time, with Catley floating a corner into the six-yard box, where the unfortunate Charles headed the ball into his own net with the final touch of the first half.

Cuthbert pushed to narrow the gap after the restart, aiming an effort just wide of the post, while the substitute Victoria Pelova almost made an immediate impact when she forced Berger into a good save with a less powerful attack.

Leupolz was inches from clawing one back when he hit the crossbar, but Arsenal defended tenaciously in the closing stages and deserved to win this competition for the first time since 2018.