Manchester City 0-1 Chelsea
By Hope Robinson 21/1/26
Above: Grace Clinton pushes forward, with Sandy Baltimore covering. Photo: mancity.com
A header from Wieke Kaptein secured a 1-0 victory for Chelsea over Manchester City,
sending them through to the Subway League Cup final after a tightly contested
semi-final at Joie Stadium.
Early Game Overview
The match began at a paced tempo, with both sides evenly matched in the opening
five minutes before Chelsea gained the upper hand. Sonia Bompastor’s team
pressed aggressively, closing space quickly and forcing Manchester City into early
mistakes. A loose diagonal pass from Rebecca Knaak inside three minutes allowed
Chelsea to launch a sharp attack, with Sam Kerr and Alyssa Thompson repeatedly
threatening behind the defensive line.
Chelsea’s midfield played a more central role than usual, moving the ball efficiently
and winning key duels through Erin Cuthbert, Wieke Kaptein, and Sjoeke Nüsken.
City attempted to bypass the press with long balls to Khadija Shaw, while Grace
Clinton impressed with her work rate and defensive positioning. Both teams played
directly and looked to attack, but clear chances were limited in the opening phase.
Chelsea’s pressure paid off in set pieces, winning their first corner inside seven
minutes and five by the 14th. Sandy Baltimore found space on the edge of the area, though Vivianne Miedema blocked the effort. City defended well from corners,
winning second balls, and staying organised.
Manchester City threatened in the 11th minute when Shaw isolated Millie Bright
before Naomi Girma intervened. Momentum swung briefly towards City from the 16th
minute as their pressing forced a turnover and a dangerous break, with Lauren
Hemp releasing Shaw, only for Baltimore to recover. Despite these moments,
Chelsea’s physicality, pressing, and control of possession kept them in charge of the
first 20 minutes.
Tactical Battle and Momentum Swings
After the opening 20 minutes, City began to control possession, winning a free kick
following a foul on Hemp. Alex Greenwood’s curling attempt was comfortably saved
by Hannah Hampton, and Chelsea started to lose the ball more often, with
clearances falling straight to City players.
Between the 25th and 35th minutes, City used their full-backs effectively, combining
with wingers to stretch the play. Kerstin Casparij pushed high on the right, leaving
City with a back three, while Clinton drifted wide. Chelsea dropped deeper to protect
space, making City’s press harder to execute. City’s midfielders moved well, winning
second balls and dictating the tempo, while Chelsea took more time on the ball and
slowed their build-up.
City created a chance in the 31st minute when Millie Bright fouled Shaw on the edge
of the box. Greenwood’s free kick struck the wall, with Yui Hasegawa’s follow-up
effort wide. Chelsea briefly relieved pressure when Ellie Carpenter won a sixth
corner, but it came to nothing.
In the final ten minutes, pace became a key factor. Thompson raced against Jade
Rose, while Hemp stretched Chelsea on the left. City combined well through
Greenwood and Hemp, with Laura Blindkilde-Brown delivering a superb pass to
Shaw. She redirected the ball to Miedema with Hampton off her line, but the strike hit
the side post, the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock before three
minutes of added time. Similar momentum swings and play are seen throughout the
second half.
Turning Points and Winning Strikes
The opening goal came in the 41st minute when Kaptein converted a corner from
Baltimore. Baltimore had been delivering excellent set pieces all game, and Chelsea
capitalised on a recycled ball that City failed to clear. Kaptein timed her leap
perfectly, while Ayaka Yamashita could have reacted more sharply. In stoppage time
of the first half, Blindkilde-Brown delivered a superb pass to Shaw, who redirected it
to Miedema with Hampton off her line, but the effort struck the side post.
Chelsea created early chances in the second half. Cuthbert attempted a strike from
the edge of the box, but City blocked it, while Casparij hit the woodwork with a half-
volley five minutes in. Hemp won possession and led attacks, and Hasegawa
dominated the midfield. Hampton tipped a Shaw header over the crossbar, although
she was offside, and Hemp supplied another dangerous cross that Clinton narrowly
missed.
Chelsea’s defence remained composed under pressure. Kaptein slipped under
challenge, allowing Hemp to drive forward, but Hampton recovered. Hasegawa
threaded a pass through to Miedema near the 60th minute, only for Hampton to
make a vital save. James struck powerfully from a Thompson pass in the 65th
minute, but Yamashita denied her. Three minutes later, Hasegawa shot from the
edge of the box, with Hampton tipping it over the bar, producing one of the game’s
standout moments.
City continued to push in the final quarter. Baltimore forced a save from Yamashita
around the 75th minute, while Casparij picked up a yellow card in the 80th. Hemp
attempted to break through several times but was crowded out, and Thompson
tested the defence with a cross across the goalmouth. A late strike from Hemp led to
a corner, and in the 93rd minute, a near-miss from Miedema and Hemp could have
levelled the match. City pressed until the final whistle, but Chelsea’s composure and
defensive organisation held firm.
Kerr’s Influence, Fowler’s Return, and Chelsea’s Semi-Final Triumph
Sam Kerr started as the right-sided striker, with Alyssa Thompson on the left, and
impressed in hold-up play and link-up combinations. Rebecca Knaak marked her
closely, but Kerr’s off-ball movement between City’s centre-backs created space for
teammates.
She frequently dropped into a central “number ten” role when Thompson
stayed high, helping Chelsea control possession and press effectively. Kerr’s
physical presence and timely runs disrupted City’s build-up, forcing errors, and
keeping the defence stretched. Her positioning near the box allowed her to threaten
on the ball and support wide attacks. Overall, Kerr’s movement, pressing, and hold-
up play were crucial to Chelsea’s attacking rhythm.
Meanwhile, Mary Fowler’s return from an ACL injury appears on the horizon, with her recent training sessions suggesting she could be ready to feature soon. The prospect of Fowler joining a forward line led by Shaw adds an exciting new dimension to City’s attack.
Manchester City moved well in wide areas, with Hemp and Greenwood combining to
create chances, and Hasegawa controlling midfield. They pressed effectively but
struggled to convert possession into clear opportunities. Defensive lapses on set
pieces and failure to track runners, particularly Kaptein, proved costly. Overall, their
dominance was undermined by finishing and organisational errors, leaving them
short in attack and defence.
Chelsea are through to the Subway League Cup final after their 1-0 semi-final win over
Manchester City, who exit the competition. They will face Manchester United, who
beat Arsenal 1-0, at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol on Sunday 15th March. Chelsea
go into the final with confidence, aiming to retain the trophy and complete back-to-
back victories.
Teams: CHELSEA (3-5-2): Hampton, Bronze, Bright (c), Girma, Carpenter,
Baltimore, Cuthbert, Kaptein, Nüsken, Kerr, Thompson. Substitutes: James (for
Kerr, 60’), Reiten (for Nüsken 81’), Rytting-Kaneryd (for Thomspon 88’).
Scorer: Kaptein 41’.
MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Yamashita, Casparij, Rose, Knaak, Greenwood (c),
Hasegawa, Blindkilde, Clinton, Miedema, Hemp, Shaw. Substitutes: Coombs (for
Clinton, 64’), Beney (for Casparij 87′).
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