Arsenal striker Stina Blackstenius scored the winner in extra-time as they beat Chelsea in the Women’s League Cup final at Molineux Stadium in a game overshadowed by the collapse of Gunners midfielder Frida Maanum in stoppage time and a clash between managers Emma Hayes and Jonas Eidevall at the final whistle.
In an even first half short on chances, Mayra Ramirez thought she had given Chelsea the lead in the 21st minute with a superb shot from outside the box, but the goal was chalked off as Erin Cuthbert had handled the ball in the build-up.
Cuthbert inadvertently provided Arsenal with a great chance midway through the second half, coughing up possession in midfield and allowing the Gunners to go on the counter, but Cloe Lacasse’s shot was straight at Hannah Hampton.
England international Lauren James almost grabbed a late winner in the 85th minute, cutting in from the left and aiming for the far corner but Manuela Zinsberger steered the ball to safety with her foot.
Minutes later came Maanum’s collapse, prompting anxious players and fans alike to urge medics onto the field to treat her, and after a long delay the Norwegian was replaced by Alessia Russo as the game resumed, finishing scoreless minutes later.
Both teams wasted some decent chances in extra-time until Swede Blackstenius was set up by Caitlin Foord, and Blackstenius took a touch before blasting home the runner from close range to ensure Arsenal retained the title.
After the final whistle, Eidevall went to shake hands with Hayes but was pushed away, with the Chelsea manager later saying: “I think there’s a way to behave on the side of the pitch and not for the first time, I’ve been in women’s football a long time and I don’t think we should tolerate male aggression like we did today. Fronting up or squaring up to a player is something that’s unacceptable. I’ve never been booked in 12 years of my career but I think there’s a way to behave on the touchline. He received a yellow card but perhaps should have been more. I accept that he’s a winner but his behaviour was unacceptable.”
On her emotions after her good friend collapsed…
“It’s always really hard. She’s a team-mate and a friend to all of us. We care so much about her. You worry a bit when stuff like this happens. We said we wanted to do this for her, to get this win for her because she couldn’t be with us at that point.”
On whether she has seen Maanum since the incident…
“I will go and see if I can see her after now.”
On the defeat…
“It’s a tough loss. There was nothing between the two teams, I didn’t think it was a high quality game to be honest with you. They took their chance and they are winners. I don’t make excuses. We had a big chance to win it right before the end and didn’t take it. They took theirs and I can’t ask for any more from the players. They gave their all today and it was a big effort from them. Congratulations to Arsenal.”
On what happened to Maanum…
“Player welfare comes first every time. I really hope she’s ok. It’s always worrying when that happens.”
On the altercation with Eidevall…
“I think there’s a way to behave on the side of the pitch and not for the first time, I’ve been in women’s football a long time and I don’t think we should tolerate male aggression like we did today. Fronting up or squaring up to a player is something that’s unacceptable. I’ve never been booked in 12 years of my career but I think there’s a way to behave on the touchline. He received a yellow card but perhaps should have been more. I accept that he’s a winner but his behaviour was unacceptable.”
On the win…
“I am very happy, happy with the performance, it was better than when we last played them.”
On the shoving incident with Emma Hayes…
“Not much. We had a discussion before the game where both teams have to agree on whether they are going to play with multi-ball system or not. Chelsea said they wanted to play with one ball and we said we wanted to play with multi-ball and then when it suits them in the last few minutes of the game, they want to take another ball to take a quick throw in and I only said “you guys wanted to play with one ball. So, it’s not my problem. It’s all good I think, it’s just in the heat of the moment stuff.”
On the pressure to win silverware at Arsenal…
“Pressure, it comes with the territory.”
On Frida Maanum’s health and dealing with the scary incident during the match…
“We trust our medical team, we got good info from them.”
On what he wants from the celebrations…
“I hope it will be wild…!”
It looked like a scary incident, of the sort no one wants to see at a football match. The good news is that she is concious and talking.
Here’s more on the frightening incident.
READ: Arsenal’s Frida Maanum ‘stable’ after collapsing in League Cup final against Chelsea
On the win…
“It means everything to win and celebrate with the fans. This season has been pretty high and pretty low but we had the chance to win some sort of trophy this year and that’s what we did today.”
On Frida Maanum…
“Obviously it is devastating seeing one of your team-mates go down like that and we hope that she is ok. I think it was written in the stars that her best mate went and scored the winner for her. Frida is a massive player and plays with every single bit of her body, she did that again today and we just hope she is ok.”
On the pressure before the game to win today…
“It is massive. We know that winning trophies is part of this club’s DNA. We want to keep pushing the bar, pushing standards and keep winning trophies.”
As ‘North London forever’ rings around Molineux, it’s Arsenal who have a record-extending seventh Conti Cup. Both teams had chances to win it and ultimately Arsenal took one of them. After what happened to Frida Maanum too, that must have taken a lot of guts and courage to go and win the game in extra time. There wasn’t much in it, it was a very tight game. Chelsea’s dreams of a quadruple are over.
She’s looks angry and is jabbing her finger as she walks across the pitch.
Eidevall doesn’t look too bothered, he’s just led Arsenal to League Cup glory.
Arsenal have ended Chelsea hopes of a quadruple.
It looks as though Emma Hayes isn’t happy and words are exchanged with Eidevall and it looks as though she pushes her opposite number…
Corner for Chelsea – one last-ditch attempt to take this to penalties BUT as they have done all game Arsenal defend the set piece brilliantly and clear the danger…
What a noise from the Arsenal end. Everybody on the Arsenal bench goes barmy. Wild scenes of celebration. Then Jonas Eidevall is almost immediately calling over Lotte Wubben-Moy to give her some instructions.
There will be two minutes added time…
Chelsea now have to force the issue – they haven’t looked like scoring over the past hour but need to find a moment of magic rapidly…
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 0
Blackstenius makes amends after her poor miss a few moments ago. Arsenal come down the left before the ball is threaded through to Foord. The Australian, who’s been impressive since coming on, lays it off to Blackstenius who takes a touch just outside the six-yard box before prodding the ball into the back of the net.
Great move from Arsenal who have a four on three – Cooney-Cross drives into the Chelsea half and picks the toughest of the three balls to play, and boy was she right to, it’s a peach of throughball that finds Foord. The Australian plays in Russo whose shot is easily saved.
Still no real sniff of goal in extra time for Chelsea.
The game is opening up, as I type that Foord is set free on the left. She drives into the box, works the opportunity on her left boot before unleashing a shot that is brilliantly blocked by the impressive Buchanan.
Chelsea are in Arsenal’s half but everything is in front of the backline and it’s easy to defend against. They’ve just lacked a spark in the final third today.
Thoughts with Frida Maanum. Really hope is ok 🙏
— Casey Stoney MBE 💙 (@CaseyStoney) March 31, 2024
My thoughts go out to Maanum right now. The football world is with you. Speedy recovery ❤️
— Bethany England (@Bethany_Eng15) March 31, 2024
Blackstenius is through in on goal – she has space and time to pick a spot. She goes early, however, and fires it over the bar. She had to at least hit the target…will she live to regret that miss?
The second half of extra time is under way, there are some tired legs out there, 15 minutes to just penalties.
James has the last chance of that mini-half – cutting back onto her left before her shot is well blocked.
Struggling to see where a goal comes from – although having said that the gaps are opening up…
Great chance for Arsenal thanks to a peach of a cross from the left from Cantley, McCabe stoops low and heads wide…the flag, however, was up and it wouldn’t have counted. Beautiful ball from Cantley though…
Good work from Fox on the right is followed up by a fine, searching cross that is well headed clear by Chelsea.
We’re still waiting for that elusive flash of inspiration…
Good news about Maanum.
BBC commentary have just told us that: “She is conscious, talking and well, and being looked after by medical staff.”
Here’s confirmation from Arsenal.
Frida is conscious, talking and in a stable condition.
She will continue to be monitored closely by our medical team.
We’re all with you, Frida ❤️
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) March 31, 2024
This half is yet to get going – no chances and the players could be forgiven if their minds are on the health of Maanum.
Russo is on for Maanum and Arsenal are trying to find the England star.
We have just been told on BBC commentary that Maanum ‘is stable and being looked after’.
The atmosphere has understandably dampened since Maanum was stretchered off. Arsenal have kept the ball well since the restart but no chances have been created.
We’re all thinking of you, Frida ❤️
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) March 31, 2024
The players’ focus may well be elsewhere – thinking about the health of Maanum.
As and when we have it.
You hope that because the match has continued she is OK.
The match has restarted – there will be two more minutes before extra time. Understandable if the players’ minds are elsewhere.
The whole of Molineux applauds – hopefully she’s OK.
The match will continue.
There are 21 members of staff – including medical staff from Chelsea and some staff from Wolves – around Maanum, all helping attending to her
The medical staff are still with Maanum, let’s hope she’s OK.
A hush has just fallen right around the ground. Frida Maanum collapsed, off the ball.
Not sure what happened – we haven’t been shown a replay, but it seems as though it was off the ball.
Play is stopped due to what looks like a bad injury – it’s Frida Maanum on the ground and the medical staff have been called immediately.
Catley gets in behind the Chelsea backline before crossing from the left BUT the flag is up – she had, indeed, just strayed offside.
There will be seven minutes of added on time – enough for someone to produce a moment of magic and prevent extra time.
Barring a flash of inspiration – something that’s been conspicuous by its absence so far – this will not be decided in 90 minutes.
The Arsenal fans are chanting Alessia Russo’s name. They want her to be brought on.
Great chance for Chelsea, great save from Zinsburger. James is sent free on the left, she drives towards the goal before opening up her body and trying to side foot it into the far right corner. But the Arsenal keeper gets her legs to the ball and saves the day for Arsenal.
Another change for Arsenal: Beth Mead makes way for Beth Catley.
Change for Chelsea: Guro Reiten comes on for Mayra Ramirez.
It’s just been confirmed that the attendance here today is 21,462, a new record for this final.
There’s been little inspiration in this match – it’s a final and the game is crying out for a moment of magic.
A fantastic ball from James – crossfield and pinpoint – finds Rytting-Kaneryd. She gets her head up and tries to play in Ramirez in the box, but it’s behind her and the chance goes begging.
Charles lets Mead know she’s there and then Mead commits a foul gifting Chelsea a free-kick in the Arsenal half.
Can they work something from this? Once again the answer is ‘no’ – the ball comes into the box, it’s cleared and then goes all the way back to Hampton in the Chelsea goal.
Change for Arsenal – Lacasse makes way for Foord.
Twenty minutes left – you feel one moment will win it, be it an error or a moment of genius. The defences have, so far, been very much on top.
The game is opening up, Arsenal counter at pace before the ball lands at the feet of Lacasse whose shot is brilliantly saved by Hampton.
The ball then goes right up the other end of the pitch but a bit of dithering on the ball by Rytting-Kaneryd and good blocking saves Arsenal’s bacon.
Arsenal’s Fox has done well this half – she’s the game’s most lively player and is combining well with Maanum.
Maanum tries her luck with a chip from distance – it’s not the worst effort, but it sails just wide to the relief of a back-tracking Hampton.
More Chelsea pressure sees them earn a corner. Not for the first time, they go short before Cuthburt eventually gets the ball in the box, it falls to Ramirez whose shot is well blocked.
You sense a goal is coming.
Laia Codina has just done the fastest change of boots I can ever recall seeing mid-match. It has so much urgency, it was like watching somebody change bikes during the Tour de France.
Chelsea have responded well to that early bit of Arsenal pressure – once again they have some joy down the left before whipping the ball into the box. It’s met by James who hits it first time, hitting the side netting. That was a fanciful attempt – the England start would have been better off taking a touch before possibly pulling the ball back across the box.
Chelsea’s first chance since the break at they combine well down the left – through Charles and Rytting Kaneryd – before cutting the ball back to Leupolz whose first-time shot with her left boot sails well over the bar.
Arsenal on top so far this half – the ball comes into the box from the left, it arrives at the feet of Mead, who loses composure momentarily and has a swing and a miss. That was a decent chance and the north Londoners will doubtless want to convert this period of pressure into a goal.
Blackstenius goes down under a Cuthburt challenge – it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other – and play is waved on. VAR agrees…
The second half is under way, change for Arsenal sees Williamson off for Codina. You assume that that’s due to a knock rather than a tactical change.
Both teams look like they’ve got a mistake in them today. It’s not been the tidiest of performances, from either side, and you wonder if one single lapse moment might ultimately prove to be decisive – or one single moment of sheer quality, of course.
There’s not been much between the teams so far. The score being level seems about right. Arsenal need to stop giving the ball away needlessly in their defensive third, they’re their own worst enemy at times. Chelsea will be grateful to Hannah Hampton for her super stop to deny Katie McCabe.
Chelsea end the half with a free-kick inside the Arsenal half but the ball into the box is dealt with – despite a call for handball – and that is the last chance as the ref blows the whistle.
It’s been a half of few chances, neither goalkeeper has been really tested so far.
Corner for Chelsea, they go short to James, but her subsequent cross to the back post is easily claimed by Zinsburger in the Arsenal goal. That sort of sums up this first 45 minutes.
I suspect both managers will be happy going into the break level. Neither have done much in the final third and the defences have been on top.
There will be four minutes added time.
Wubben-Moy this time with some great defending – she gets in the way of a piledriver and goes down as a result. Chelsea have been on top these past five-10 minutes.
This break in play is giving both managers a chance to issue a team talk. There’s some deep conversation going on in the Arsenal huddle in particular. The Chelsea players seem a little bit more relaxed, mostly taking on refreshments.
Hannah Hampton in the Chelsea goal is down and there’s a break in play. She slipped while kicking the ball.
Leah Williamson saves her team and Kim Little with a fine last-ditch tackle after Little had given the ball away on the edge of the area. James and Ramirez combined well before the Arsenal defender had her say.
Arsenal seem to be growing stronger and stronger, the longer this half goes on. It’s a much more even game so far than we saw in either of the league meetings between these two sides this term, both of which were very one-sided, with each team winning once.
From the resulting set-piece there’s a bit of pinball in the box before the it sits up for Wubben-Moy who hits it first time just wide.
Better from Arsenal who are putting Chelsea under a fair bit of pressure at the moment. Maanum again combines with Lacasse before a last-ditch Chelsea block prevents Hampton from having to make a save.
Then about 30 seconds later McCabe fires in a long shot that is tipped over the bar for a corner.
Half chance for Arsenal as Lacasse is played in in the box. She takes it first time from an angle and Hampton easily saves. Lacasse probably should have taken that on and tried to pull it back, she was never going to beat Hampton from that angle.
Handball…
I don’t think there can be any argument about this one.
Arsenal 0 Chelsea 0
Ramirez scores a blinder, a shot from 30 yards out that gives Zinsburger no chance in the Arsenal goal. But in the build up Cuthburt handled the ball and after a visit to the VAR monitor the goal is ruled out.
Good move from Arsenal as Wubben-Moy plays a great diagonal ball that’s brilliantly brought down by Fox. The Arsenal player then commits a foul and the chance to create something goes begging.
First corner for Arsenal – can they create something from this?
The answer is ‘nope’. The ball is fizzed into the box but Hampton, in the Chelsea goal, comes out and claims the ball well.
Better from Arsenal Lacasse wins the ball back in the Chelsea half but the move peters out before they can create a chance. The north Londoners have just lacked a bit of cutting edge so far, but they’re passing the ball around well.
James with the ball once again, she drives at the Arsenal backline before tumbling on the ground – she wants a penalty but she fell over a leg (Kim Little’s, I think) rather than being brought down. This game has suddenly sprung to life.
Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall has opted for a long, light-brown coat today, whilst Emma Hayes is almost entirely in black. Their seats here at Molineux are slightly below pitch level, because the dugouts are a couple of steps downwards below the ground, so they’re both standing in their technical areas to observe the game so far and I don’t blame them. The view from those low-down seats can’t be ideal for anyone.
Lovely quick feet, one-touch football from Arsenal ends with Beth Mead floating a cross into the box from the left. It’s a fine ball but evades everyone.
First shot on goal goes the way of Chelsea. The breaks for James in the inside-right channel, the England star cuts onto her right and fires in a shot that Zinsburger saves well, palming the ball past the post for a corner. Nothing comes from the resulting set piece.
Lots of shadow boxing so far, both team sounding each other out. Arsenal seeing a bit more of the ball now.
Arsenal are pressing high up, doubtless what Eidevall would have wanted to see. Still no chances created yet.
Rytting-Kaneryd has looked lively so far for Chelsea. Two dribbles already and she looks up for this today.
Chelsea have had the lion’s share of possession so far, they’ve passed the ball nicely but without any threat.
The League Cup final is under way, Arsenal are in their famous red and white and Chelsea in their traditional blue.
And we’re about to get under way.
Dawn Airey, the chair of the WSL & Championship board, shakes the players’ hands as she walks along the red carpet and conducts the formalities. There’s a haze of waving blue flags to my left and a sea of red & white flags to my right. They’re all blowing in the wind a bit – there are significant gusts out there. That could impact the conditions.
And we’re not long away from kick-off.
The Arsenal fans are definitely in the majority here inside this stadium. They’re brought 6,000 fans officially but it looks like several thousands more of the anticipated attendance of 24,000 are wearing red rather than blue. There’s a terrific-looking section of blue fans and blue shirts away to my left, in the Chelsea end, but nonetheless it looks like Arsenal have the edge in terms of the noise, as the starting line-ups are read-out. The loudest cheers of all were reserved for Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Katie McCabe.
On Chelsea’s approach today…
“It’s football we don’t need to complicate it that much.”
On the rivalry with Eidevall and this being their last meeting…
“[The media] will miss it, you build it up. We get on well and I for one will enjoy it knowing [this is our last meeting].”
Since Eidevall took charge of Arsenal in the summer of 2021, his team has played Hayes’s Chelsea 10 times. Hayes has won half of those meetings, Eidevall three and two have been drawn. Perhaps more significantly, Hayes has lifted five major trophies in those past two and three quarter years, compared to Eidevall’s one. Now they will contest another piece of silverware before Hayes departs Chelsea to take charge of the US women’s team.
READ: Inside the Emma Hayes-Jonas Eidevall rivalry ahead of Arsenal vs Chelsea League Cup final showdown
It’s understood Alessia Russo has been suffering from a bug this week, and although she’s believed to be recovering well, that minor illness is what has kept her out of this game today. Stina Blackstenius is this competition’s top scorer this season, however, so Arsenal are seemingly in safe hands up front.
Having already been knocked out of the Women’s FA Cup, dropped out of the Women’s Champions League in the qualifying rounds and slipped six points behind their Women’s Super League title rivals, the game at Molineux is – realistically – their last remaining opportunity for silverware this season.
READ: League Cup final is season-defining match for Arsenal
ARSENAL XI TO FACE CHELSEA: Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, McCabe; Little, Pelova; Mead, Maanum, Lacasse; Blackstenius. Subs: D’Angelo, Williams, Catley, Foord, Russo, Wienroither, Codina, Cooney-Cross, Lia
One change for the north Londoners from the side that left it late to beat Aston Villa 3-1 last weekend. It’s Stina Blackstenius who’ll lead the line, with Alessia Russo dropping to the bench.
CHELSEA XI TO FACE ARSENAL: Hampton; Perisset, Carter, Buchanan, Charles; Cuthbert, Leupolz, Nusken; James, Ramirez, Rytting-Kaneryd. Subs: Berger, Musovic, Ingle, Macario, Reiten, Lawrence, Kirby, Hamano, Beever-Jones
More changes for Chelsea as Emma Hayes makes six alterations to the side that drew against Ajax in the Champions League. Hannah Hampton starts in between the sticks, Niamh Charles captains the side, Melanie Leupolz and Sjoeke Nusken come into midfield, while Lauren James and Johanna Rytting-Kaneryd start on the flanks.
This is the 10th time Arsenal have reached the final of this competition, more than any other side, in only the 13th season it has been contested
The north London club have lifted the trophy a record six times, compared to Manchester City’s four and Chelsea’s two. No other club has won this trophy.
Chelsea are in the final for a fifth consecutive year, but have been beaten in the past two visits to the trophy match.
Emma Hayes’ team are bidding to become the first British women’s side to win a quadruple of major honours since Arsenal lifted a quartet of trophies in 2007
Sweden striker Stina Blackstenius has scored eight times in this competition this term, more than any other player, and nobody has scored more times in a single Conti Cup campaign since her fellow Arsenal forward Vivianne Miedema netted nine goals across their 2018-19 Conti Cup campaign.
By Tom Garry
Chelsea and Scotland midfielder Erin Cuthbert has admitted it will be “weird” when Emma Hayes leaves the club at the end of the season and a new manager takes over.
Today’s final gives Hayes’ team the chance to lift a first of a potential quadruple of major trophies in the USA-bound coach’s farewell campaign, after 12 years at the helm, and while Cuthbert is wishing her manager well, she knows they will miss her.
“I’ll always be grateful to Emma, no matter what,” Cuthbert says. “Everything that me and Emma are is based on honesty. She’s been utterly brutal to me at times and I’ve been utterly brutal to her at times. I like that we have that relationship, that we want to win. We will both do anything to achieve success.”
Asked about the summer when Hayes will be replaced, Cuthbert continued: “It’s going to be weird. It’s going to be uncomfortable – but it’s also exciting. Change is exciting.
“I’m going to miss Emma. She’s been great for me, the team, the club. She personifies everything that Chelsea is – but change has to be exciting. I’ve been at the club a long time, so a fresh pair of eyes might be a good thing. Who’s to say we can’t go on and achieve the same success, if not more, with someone else?”
By Tom Garry
Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy has drawn parallels between Arsenal’s situation going into this final and their position before last season’s League Cup showdown, when they came out on top against Chelsea at Selhurst Park.
Just 16 days ago, the north Londoners were well-beaten 3-1 at Stamford Bridge to dent their Women’s Super League title hopes, and with them already being out of the FA Cup and Europe this is their last real hope of silverware this campaign. And the England centre-back says Arsenal want to “write the wrongs” and show their true potential with an improved performance at Molineux today.
“Interestingly last season was similar in terms of being knocked out of the [FA] Cup early, being out of the title race and looking to get some silverware in the Conti Cup. So there are quite a lot of similarities,” Wubben-Moy said. “Having played Chelsea recently and building, it puts us in good stead in terms of how much we can take from that game, how much we can learn and also the feeling that we all have of wanting to write the wrongs.
“We didn’t perform [at Stamford Bridge] and that’s not us. I think if we were looking at ourselves and said, ‘Oh, we did everything, but we still lost.’ I think we’d be in a different place. Ultimately we have a special squad with a lot of talent that hasn’t even fulfilled the potential that we know we can. Looking at opportunities we have to do so, the Conti Cup final day gives us no greater opportunity, to be honest.”
This is the two team’s third meeting in the League Cup final – both having won one of the previous pair of matches. But it’s not just being local rivals that gives this game an edge.
“Fighting for silverware is in both our DNAs, so it gives an extra edge to the competitiveness and what comes out on the day,” Wubben-Moy said. “With Emma Hayes at the helm of their ship having previously been an Arsenal coach, that adds a whole other element as well.
“There’s a lot of contextualised moments that contribute to the rivalry that go far beyond just being a football game. Those moments ultimately give the game an excitement you wouldn’t get from a standard game. To be part of a game like that as a player is helping history be written for that moment but also for the future.”
Stay here for all the team news, build-up and action, with kick off set for 3pm.
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