CHELSEA booked their spot in the FA Women’s League Cup final with a 3-1 win over Manchester United at Kingsmeadow.
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95 mins: FULL TIME WHISTLE
It’s a 3-1 win for Chelsea over 10-player Man United. Harder, Fleming and Carter were on target as the Blues reached their third successive Conti Cup final.
The WSL champions scored three times in 13 minutes with Boe Risa on target for the visitors.
93 mins: United get forward
Ona Batlle gets into the box and whips in a dangerous low cross but the ball flies past Leah Galton.
91 mins: Chelsea 3 Man United 1
Six minutes of added time is to be played.
88 mins: Chelsea substitution
Guro Reiten is replaced by Alsu Abdullina as Chelsea look comfortably on their way to a third Conti Cup final.
86 mins: Chelsea double substitution
Drew Spence comes on for Jonna Andersson. And Pernille Harder comes off after a solid shift in midfield with Lauren James coming on to pantomime boos from the away fans. And the ex-Red Devils takes a shot on goal almost immediately after darting into the box.
80 mins: United substitution and Chelsea corner
Alessia Russo is subbed off with goalkeeper Mary Earps coming on in her place. Chelsea win a free-kick which bounces off the wall and goes out for a Blues corner but United manage to thwart the danger.
77 mins: RED CARD FOR BAGGALEY
The United keeper is sent off for clattering into Sam Kerr just outside the penalty area. Blundell is dispossessed and Chelsea loft the ball over the top of United’s defence for Kerr who is brought down by Baggaley.
76 mins: Reiten cross
Reiten delivers a dangerous cross from the left into box for Kerr, but the ball narrowly misses the Australia star goes out of play.
68 mins: Chelsea substitution
Jessie Fleming has come off with Sam Kerr making her first Blues appearance since returning from Asia Cup duty for the Matildas.
65 mins – Man United substitutions
Ivana Fuso comes on for Jackie Groenen. Martha Thomas comes off with Signe Bruun entering the fray for her Red Devils debut. The Denmark striker joined United on loan from Lyon in the January transfer window.
63 mins – Chelsea penalty appeal
Pernille Harder is not happy after being pushed by Thorisdottir in the penalty box. The Denmark star appeals for a penalty but the referee is having none of it.
54 mins – Man United corner
A good corner into the box and Chelsea struggle to get the ball out of the area. The balls ends up at Russo’s feet and she takes a firm strike but sends her effort wide.
51 mins – Baggaley save
Nice save from Baggaley from a Pernille Harder effort at the near post with the keeper saving with her legs, but the whistle blows for offside.
47 mins: Harder back on the pitch
Play has resumed and Harder is back on the pitch for the hosts
46 mins: Second half begins
No substitutions for either side as yet. Pernille Harder is down on the turf and play has stopped momentarily.
Half-time: Chelsea 3 Man United 1
Chelsea are two goals to the good with Pernille Harder in fine form in the middle of the pitch.
Goals from Harder and Jessie Fleming saw the Conti Cup holders take a 2-0 lead before Boe Risa pulled one back for the visitors.
And Jess Carter netted from close range to make it three for the hosts.
A win will see Emma Hayes’ side reach the league final for the third year in the row.
Can United find a way back into this?
45 mins: Chelsea corner
Cuthbert whips the ball into the box but Baggaley does well in a congested penalty area and palms it away.
39 mins: GOAAALLL Chelsea 3 Man United 1
Sophie Ingle sends the ball out to the left to Guro Reiten who darts into the box and crosses for Jess Carter who has timed her run perfectly. And Carter smashes the ball home past Baggaley. Chelsea’s two goal lead is restored.
32 mins: GOAALLL Chelsea 2 Man United 1
United get one back through Vilde Boe Risa. It’s a lovely backheel from Jackie Groenen to Boe Risa who nets from a tight angle inside the box
31 mins: GOOAAALL Chelsea 2 Man United 0
Jessie Fleming doubles the Blues lead with a header that bounces over Sophie Baggaley and into the back of the net. That’s two in five minutes for Chelsea.
26 mins: GOOOOOALLLL Chelsea 1 Man United 0
It’s Pernille Harder who strikes first to give Chelsea the lead. The Denmark ace evades Aoife Mannion and slots the ball into the bottom corner to put the hosts 1-0 up with her 10th goal of the season.
23 mins:
Leah Galton works her way into the penalty box and takes a shot on goal but her effort is blocked by Cuthbert.
20 mins: Man United corner
United win a corner and Katie Zelem swings it in to the back post towards Thorisdottir. But she heads it out of play.
5 mins: Harder goes for goal
Pernille Harder’s got into a decent position on the edge of the penalty area. But her shots on goal were blocked by Maria Thorisdottir
Chelsea’s line-up
The Blues have made three changes to the team that beat Aston Villa on Saturday. Sam Kerr starts on the bench following her return from Asia Cup duty for Australia.
Zecira Musovic, Aniek Nouwen, Millie Bright (C), Sophie Ingle, Jess Carter, Guro Reiten, Jess Fleming, Niamh Charles, Erin Cuthbert, Pernille Harder, Jonna Andersson
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
