Key events
Thank you for joining me for this history-making semi-final. Chelsea have been beaten by Manchester United for the first time. The Blues will not be able to extend their hold on the Women’s FA Cup to four consecutive season. Manchester United’s dominant first half performance and impressive defensive efforts in the second 45 see them through to the final where they face Tottenham. For all the action have a read of the report below. We will be back with more women’s football action in an hour or so with Arsenal’s WSL match against Bristol City. Until then have a good evening.
Here’s some reaction from Chelsea boss Emma Hayes. She is in her last season at the club and faces the prospect of not winning any trophies from it. Chelsea are currently second the WSL table and face defending champions Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League semi-finals.
She said: “You can’t gift two goals so early in the game against top opponents. The first a mistake in first minute, the second from a throw in. They had four entries into box in first half, two goals. We had 42 and one goal. We have to do better. We gave ourselves lots to do…
“I want to say congratulations to Man Utd, their fans, the players put up a great fight and Mary Earps produced world-class saves.”
A fun fact for you:
Chelsea’s exit from the #WomensFACup confirms that, for the first time in a decade since Liverpool’s 2014 WSL title, a club that isn’t Arsenal/Chelsea/Man City is now going to win a major women’s trophy in England this season.
Those three clubs have won 27 in a row between them.— Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) April 14, 2024
A blow for Tottenham Hotspur with that Manchester United win meaning Grace Clinton will not be able to play in the final as she can’t face her parent club (she is on loan to Spurs from United).
“I just feel sorry for her,” Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn said. “She’s not getting a chance to play at Wembley in a big final. We have a big squad and a lot of good players. We know why she cannot play against them but we have a lot of players who can do that job. It’s mostly [sorry] for her.”
At the time it felt significant when the penalty was not awarded but with so much time left of the game it felt Chelsea could still throw a punch. But now the game is over the missed penalty call feels crucial and Chelsea and their fans will be fuming. It is a clear handball and would most likely have been given had VAR been in operation. What do you think?
What it means for United:
Goal-scorer Rachel Williams told the BBC: “I can’t even put it into words. All week we have been grafting… When she put sin balls like that you have to finish them. To finally beat Chelsea [is amazing].”
Earps herself made some amazing saves in this semi-final. She made one in the first half but she put in two incredible saves when Chelsea were peppering United’s goal. The two goals early in the first half of course secured the win but Earps’ saves equally is to thanks for this win.
Manchester United keeper Mary Earps told the BBC: This season has been so hard, it is has been mentally brutal. But back int he final, c’mon.
“I feel we have been lacking aggression in our games this season. The girls knew we had to give this a good go, it is heavy when things don’t go your way in the league. It was ugly and it was horrible but I don’t care because we won.”
Just over two weeks ago Chelsea had a quadruple on their hands. Now they have a double with the WSL and Champions League title nowhere near guaranteed. Hayes’ last season unravelling.
The response from the stands and the bench shows just what that win means to them. The coaches and players erupt with elation. Mary Earps celebrates wildly. A piece of history in their first win over Chelsea. The stands are jumping, singing and quite frankly I haven’t seen a celebration in women’s football like that for a long time. A moment they will never forget.
Manchester United reach Women’s FA Cup final with 2-1 win over Chelsea
Manchester United are through to the Women’s FA Cup final after beating defending champions Chelsea for the first time. They will play Tottenham in the final, who have reached their maiden final. What a match and performance from United, so well marshalled and the game management was supreme.
90 + 8 min: Macario is in, but it’s out for a goal kick. Surely that is it?
90 + 8 min: Hampton is up as Chelsea win a corner.
90 + 6 min: Ramirez scuffs a shot and Beever-Jones then has a shot but she hits the side netting – this is just not Chelsea’s day.
90 + 5 min: The fans in the stands look nervous, knowing the threat Chelsea pose. But today United seem to have banished the Chelsea curse. A first win against the Blues beckons. A spot in the Women’s FA Cup final. A incredible chance for their first silverware in five years.
90 + 4 min: Chelsea are starting to force options here and no wonder with the clock winding down but if they want to find an equaliser they need an air of patience too. I would be surprised if United don’t win this game now, they look like they are firmly in control despite Chelsea’s possession.
90 + 2 min: United have to manage this game now, keep their heads. They create a great chance with Parris shooting but Hampton saves. The keeper gets her team back underway again/
90 + 1 min: Garcia is fouled by Nusken and she wins a free kick, a perfect outcome with the clock winding down. Zelem takes the set piece and the delivery is on the edge of the box and Charles clears. There be eight minutes added – time for an equaliser.
89 min: Chelsea are still searching for an equaliser but it just feels their opportunity may have gone now. Things are starting to swing back in United’s direction once again, they are minutes away from history.
87 min: I think Earps had a bit of cramp, she is okay to continue.
86 min: The ball drops perfectly to Parris and she lays it off but Garcia is offside. Chelsea look to strike back but they give away a free kick and United can clear. Earps is down again here, some boos come down from the Chelsea fans.
84 min: United come through, fans want a penalty as Naalsund is down in the box but United players don’t appeal. They are still a huge threat going forward but their opportunities have been rare in this half.
82 min: Chelsea make another change before the corner with Lawrence on for Perisset. The delivery from the corner is good and it almost goes all the way in for Macario. Earps doesn’t get a touch to it so it’s a goal kick.
81 min: United win a good throw in and Garcia goes for the shot but it is way off target. Chelsea now on the ball again and they win a corner.
80 min: Macario is over this again and she whips it in perfectly but Garcia heads away. Chelsea come forward again, they really are throwing absolutely everything at United right now. It goes out for a goal kick though, it just doesn’t seem like it is Chelsea’s day. Earps gets a yellow card for time wasting.
78 min: Mannion gets a yellow card for a shirt pull on Ramirez and Chelsea have a free kick. It is a good delivery from Macario but Parris clears. Carter wins it backand Parris absolutely clears her out for a yellow card. Another free kick to come.
76 min: Chelsea are prepping some changes here during this break in play. Cuthbert is coming off and Kirby is on, Kaneryd is also off for Beever-Jones.
74 min: United peel away in the midfield, Garcia is tackled by Cuthbert and Chelsea eventually clear. Cuthbert remains down. She is struggling a bit and will need some attention.
73 min: Ramirez laughs as she thinks it should be a corner but it is ruled a goal kick. Chelsea starting to become really frustrated with the referee calls. United are controlling this game right now, they have less than 20 minutes to go to make history.
72 min: The corner delivery from Perisset is easily cleared by United. Chelsea come back immediately with Kaneryd crossing in but it is really well defended once again. United really fronting up in defence.
71 min: Parris is on for United with Williams off, that could be an injury change there as she limps a little off the pitch before the corner is taken. Galton is also off for Malard. Chelsea makes changes with Reiten off for Macario and Buchanan is off for Nusken.
70 min: Chelsea win another free kick and this time Garcia gets a yellow card for the foul. Perisset takes it, it is a long way out but the delivery is good. The ball pinballs, a Chelsea play goes down and they want a penalty but it isn’t given. They get a shot on target but Earps saves and it is out for a corner.
68 min: James take it, it is on target but it is an easy one for Earps to collect. Chelsea need to strike soon or all of these efforts will be for nothing.
67 min: Chelsea come again, I may as well copy and paste that line at the moment. The referee whistle blows for Le Tissier for a foul on Ramirez and Chelsea have a free kick in a good position.
65 min: Toone looked angry coming off the pitch, she was having a good game but Skinner’s tactics have worked out so far. Play is back underway and Earps is okay to continue.
64 min: Earps has clasped her shoulder here and is receiving medical attention, she would be a huge miss if she does go off here. United have made a change with Toone off for Ladd.
63 min: Chelsea keep putting on the pressure and it is popped into the area, Earps collects but she is then clattered by Reiten. No yellow given but the keeper stays on the ground – hopefully she is okay but she may also be taking the sting out of this Chelsea momentum.
61 min: Chelsea come in again and it pinballs around, frantic defence sees it out for a Chelsea corner. The delivery is good but the header is way over the bar from Leupolz. On the replay, Zelem’s handball would have been a bit harsh – her hand made contact but there wasn’t much she could have done about it.
60 min: Chelsea players blow up as Zelem look to have handballed there but nothing is given. Zelem turned away from the referee and nothing is given but Chelsea are not happy with that decision. Chelsea then have two shots at goal but Earps saves well.
58 min: Chelsea look like they have clicked into the form fans are used to seeing but have United already done too much for the Blues to affect the result? Time will tell but United are repelling the chances Chelsea are throwing at them so far.
57 min: Chelsea look to find a way through but the pass forward has too much on it, Earps clears. Williams then wins a free kick from Leupolz, this tie is heating up between these rivals. United take it through Toone but Charles clears.
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
