Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City: Bompastor clinches first trophy

Yui Hasegawa’s second-half own goal sealed a 2-1 win for Chelsea over Manchester City in the Women’s League Cup final at Pride Park Stadium.

Chelsea had lost the tournament’s last three finals, but ended that run on Saturday, with Sonia Bompastor winning a trophy on her first attempt with the Blues.

City started brightly but found themselves behind in the eighth minute as Chelsea got a stroke of luck.

After being slid through by Lauren James, Mayra Ramirez saw a shot smothered by Ayaka Yamashita which rebounded back into the Colombian’s path off Laia Aleixandri, and she bundled it over the line.

Jill Roord and Aoba Fujino forced Hannah Hampton into two good saves at her near post in response, but Chelsea should have doubled their lead before the break. Ramirez raced in behind, but after rounding the goalkeeper, she could only pick out the side netting.

The Blues came out with a renewed fight in the second half, though Yamashita was alert to smother Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s low drive.

It was then a special moment from Fujino that pulled City level 64 minutes in, with the winger driving into the box from just inside Chelsea’s half before curling a brilliant strike past Hampton at her near post.

However, there was one last twist left in the game as Chelsea found the winner 13 minutes from time. Lucy Bronze’s tireless work down the right opened up the space for Ramirez. Hasegawa stuck out a leg to stop the low cross from reaching Maika Hamano, but her interception looped over Yamashita into the far corner.

This was the first match of four in quick succession between the two teams. As well as playing each other next in the Women’s Super League, they will do battle in a two-legged Champions League quarter-final tie which begins on Wednesday.

YOUR SUBWAY WOMEN’S LEAGUE CUP WINNERS 2025: CHELSEA! pic.twitter.com/d9IMDBRMaI

— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) March 15, 2025

Data Debrief: Stopping the rot

Chelsea have not enjoyed their Women’s League Cup final appearances in recent years. Despite this being their sixth consecutive appearance in the showpiece, they had lost each of the last three, including a defeat to City in 2022.

They have now won 21 of their last 25 matches in the competition (D1 L3), with Chelsea stopping that run of losing in finals to secure the first leg of what they hope will be a historic quadruple this season.

It was not the return Nick Cushing wanted, having stepped back into the dugout earlier this week following Gareth Taylor’s departure. However, he should not be surprised, as City have now lost 12 of their last 18 games against Chelsea in all competitions (W3 D3).

Fujino had given her side hope, becoming the youngest-ever goalscorer in a final of the Women’s League Cup aged 21 years and 47 days, but City were ultimately unable to lift a fifth League Cup trophy.