The 2024 FA Women's League Cup final was the thirteenth final of the FA Women's League Cup, England's secondary cup competition for women's football teams and its primary league cup tournament. It took place on 31 March 2024 at Molineux, and was contested by Chelsea and Arsenal.
Chelsea made their fifth consecutive (and fifth overall) appearance in a League Cup final, having lost the previous two editions. Six-time winners Arsenal contested their tenth League Cup final, and this was a rematch of the 2023 Final. It was the third time the teams had met in a League Cup final.
Arsenal won the match 1–0 and clinched their seventh title.
Route to the final
Arsenal RoundOppositionScoreGSBristol City (H)3–1GSSouthampton (A)1–2GSTottenham Hotspur (H)3–3GSReading (A)0–6QFLondon City Lionesses (A)0–4SFAston Villa (H)4–0Key: (H) = Home; (A) = Away Arsenal entered the competition in the group stage after losing their UEFA Women's Champions League qualifier to Paris FC. They were drawn in a group with Bristol City, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Reading. Against Bristol City, Frida Maanum swept Arsenal into the lead midway through the first half, and Lotte Wubben-Moy doubled their lead with a header from a corner. Bristol City got back in into the contest through Sille Struck, but Stina Blackstenius was able to seal the win for Arsenal deep into added time.
In their second match away at Southampton, a shock looked to be on the cards when Molly Pike gave the home the side the lead at the start of the second half. However, a quick reply from Maanum, and an injury time header from Amanda Illestedt, her first for the club, meant it was two wins from two for Arsenal.
A North London thriller against Tottenham Hotspur was next. Three times Spurs took the lead through Martha Thomas and Jessica Naz, only for Arsenal to match them with goals from Blackstenius, Maanum and an own goal from Amy Turner. A penalty shootout followed to determine who would win the bonus point. Sabrina D'Angelo saved from Naz and Kit Graham hit the bar as Arsenal gained the advantage. And although Caitlin Foord saw her penalty saved, Jen Beattie stepped up to score the winning spot-kick.
Arsenal sealed top spot in Group D with a comprehensive win over bottom side Reading. Blackstenius scored her first hat-trick for the club, whilst there were also goals for Foord, Laia Codina and Beth Mead.
In the quarter-finals, Arsenal were pitted against London City Lionesses. A brace from Cloé Lacasse was complimented by a penalty from Kim Little and an Alessia Russo header. In the semi-finals, Arsenal were drawn at home against Aston Villa. Again, it was another comfortable 4–0 win, with Blackstenius scoring yet another hat-trick and Maanum with a long range effort.
Chelsea +RoundOppositionScoreGSByeQFSunderland (H)5–0SFManchester City (A)0–1Key: (H) = Home; (A) = Away Chelsea entered the competition at the knockout stage due to their participation in the UEFA Women's Champions League.
In the quarter finals, they were paired with Sunderland. Sjoeke Nüsken and Fran Kirby both scored two goals apiece, with Aggie Beaver-Jones also finding the back of the net as Chelsea ran out comfortable 5–0 winners. Their semi-final was a much closer affair, with an away trip to Manchester City. Lauren James gave Chelsea an early lead, and they were able to hold out for the win and book a place in the League Cup Final.
Match
Details
GK 1 Manuela ZinsbergerLB 15 Katie McCabe LCB 3 Lotte Wubben-MoyRCB 6 Leah Williamson RB 2 Emily FoxLCM 21 Victoria PelovaRCM 10 Kim Little (c)LW 24 Cloé Lacasse CAM 12 Frida Maanum RW 9 Beth Mead FW 25 Stina BlacksteniusSubstitutes:GK 14 Sabrina D'AngeloGK 40 Naomi WilliamsLB 7 Steph Catley RB 26 Laura WienroitherCB 27 Laia Codina MF 32 Kyra Cooney-Cross FW 53 Vivienne LiaFW 23 Alessia Russo FW 19 Caitlin Foord Manager: Jonas Eidevall GK 24 Hannah HamptonLB 21 Niamh Charles (c)LCB 26 Kadeisha BuchananRCB 7 Jess CarterRB 15 Ève PérissetLCM 8 Melanie LeupolzRCM 22 Erin Cuthbert LW 10 Lauren James CAM 6 Sjoeke Nüsken RW 19 Johanna Rytting KanerydFW 35 Mayra Ramírez Substitutes:GK 1 Zećira MušovićGK 30 Ann-Katrin BergerMF 5 Sophie IngleMF 12 Ashley LawrenceMF 11 Guro Reiten MF 14 Fran KirbyFW 9 Catarina Macario FW 23 Maika HamanoFW 33 Aggie Beever-Jones Manager: Emma Hayes
Player of the match: Victoria Pelova (Arsenal)
Assistant referees: Emily Carney Ruby Sykes
Fourth official:
Video assistant referee: Michael SalisburyMatch rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Nine named substitutes. Maximum of five substitutions in three stoppages.
References
External links