[Conti Cup Final] Chelsea W vs. Arsenal W, 05/03, 15:00
Date: Sunday, 5 March 2023
KO: 3 p.m. UK time
Competition: FA Women’s Continental League Cup (formerly Continental Tyres Cup)
Venue: Selhurst Park
Welcome to the r/chelsealadiesfc match thread for another final in the League Cup, and the second Sunday in a row we face Arsenal outside league play. Here you’ll find pre-match news, injury updates, and discussion on match day. Will be slow to update as I committed to helping my mum with something!
Last week, Chelsea knocked Arsenal out of the Women’s FA Cup 2-0 with goals from Sophie Ingle and Sam Kerr, and advanced to the quarter-finals of this competition. Now, we face our London rivals once again in knock-out play, with a trophy awarded to the victors.
This will be the first of four opportunities to win silverware this year (Conti Cup, FA Cup, Champions League, WSL). Chelsea, incidentally, have not had a season with a trophy since 2018/19. We last lifted this trophy in 2021, after winning it also in 2020 (for the first time).
These clubs met in the league this season, as well, with Sam Kerr saving Chelsea a point at the Emirates.
‘Grow where you’re planted,’ but let’s have a bigger garden
Also of note, Selhurst Park has a capacity of 24,000 — but these two clubs have shown they’re able to draw many more thousands than that, haven’t they? Emma Hayes knows this, and told The Athletic that Wembley should be considered as the venue for this cup final.
“I want to be in the finals. For me, being in these positions is why I do this,” said Hayes. “So the fact we have a Continental Cup — I hope almost sold out, it sounds like it. I mean next time maybe it could be at Wembley and we could do even better and sell Wembley out next year as well because perhaps that’s where the League Cup should be.”
(Per the Athletic, Bramall Lane in Sheffield, capacity of 32k, is the largest capacity stadium where the final of this competition was played since its inception in 2011.)
Last year, just over 8,000 people headed to Plough Lane Stadium (capacity 9,300) to watch Chelsea’s disappointing Conti Cup loss to Man City.
Big names injured at both clubs
In the blue corner: Fran Kirby (knee), Pernille Harder (hamstring)
In the red corner: Beth Mead (ACL), Vivianne Miedema (ACL)
Form (all comps)
Chelsea: WWWWW
Arsenal: LLWDW
Next up for Chelsea
Home vs. Brighton, Wednesday 7:30 p.m. Home vs. Manchester United, next Sunday 12:30 p.m.
HOW TO WATCH
Click here to access BBC coverage of the match.
As always, the CFCW Twitter account will provide live updates.
The game will be broadcast online via The FA Player, per the club website. A free account is required to watch – click here to access the match.
LINE-UPS
CHE: Berger, Bright, Ingle, James, Reiten, Perisset, Eriksson (C), Kerr, Charles, Cuthbert, Cankovic.
Subs: Musovic, Carter, Leupolz, Fleming, Mjelde, Kaneryd, Buchanan, Abdullina.
ARS: Zinsberger, Martiz, Williamson, Rafaelle, Catley, Walti, Little (C), Maanum, Foord, Blackstenius.
Subs: Marckese, Beattie, Wubben-Moy, Wienroither, Pelova, Kuhl, Gio, Hurtig.
MATCH EVENTS
1’ Underway!!
2’ GOOALLLLLLLL!!!! SAMMY K HEADS HOME!!!
16’ GOAL Arsenal. 1-1
24’ GOAL Arsenal. 1-2 after penalty
32’ McCabe yellow card
40’ CHE sub Buchanan for Cankovic
45’ Arsenal add a third. 1-3.
HALFTIME: Two goal deficit to overcome here. I’m at church now so see you all on the other side……
FINAL: Arsenal 3, Chelsea 1
Look, this is our first defeat in six months, in 21 games. I am not gonna be losing sleep over it. Emma definitely messed up with her team selection and she tried to fix it but the third goal was final nail to the coffin. We need to work on off-ball performance. I think it was what made a difference today. Considering there is another game in three days time I would like to see the likes of Maren, Leupolz getting start. Kerr could have used some rest as well. We will come back stronger I believe (and we need to there is a tough month ahead). Up the Chels! Onto the next one!
Also I think we are in desperate need of LB. Playing 4 backs without proper left-footed players there kind of hurt going forward, and it makes sense why Emma bid for McCabe.
Such a positive start, wasted. The change in formation was already making a big difference until the last moment. Hopefully we'll come out all pistons firing second half, but it may be too late... Come on, Chelsea!
Had to duck out during the sermon to check the score. Come onnnnnnn :(
It's gonna be comback for ages if we pull this off. 45 minutes still left so who knows? We look quite better after Buchanan came on, shame third goal now makes everything difficult. Let's see if we can do it. Personally think Charles should be off won't mind Fleming coming into midfield and Perisset going back to right wing back.
I have two tickets someone can have. Feel very bad for not going and don't want them to be empty
Edit: gone
L James very good when the ball is at her feet. Her off ball performance, helping with defense tho not much. She needs to improve that.
