Stina Blackstenius scored a 116th-minute winner as Arsenal beat Chelsea in the Continental League Cup final.
Blackstenius fashioned space in the Chelsea area to settle a tense encounter with a low strike that Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton could not keep out.
It sees Arsenal retain the title, beating Chelsea just as they did last year.
On a dramatic and emotional day, Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum was carried from the field on a stretcher at the end of normal time after collapsing.
Chelsea, whose dreams of being the first English women’s side to win four trophies in a season since Arsenal in 2007 have been dashed, appeared to have taken the lead on 21 minutes through Mayra Ramirez’s 25-yard drive.
However, VAR – in operation here, unlike in the Women’s Super League – spotted that Erin Cuthbert had controlled the ball with her arm in the build-up, and it was disallowed.
The reprieve gave impetus to Arsenal, who ended the first half stronger. Katie McCabe’s stinging drive forced a good save from Chelsea keeper Hampton, before Lotte Wubben-Moy volleyed wide from the subsequent corner.
Cuthbert appeared to catch Blackstenius in the Chelsea area after the break – but that was not enough to warrant a penalty.
Both keepers made important stops in the second half. Hampton was again called into action on 66 minutes, with a sharp low save to deny Cloe Lacasse one on one, before Manuela Zinsberger stood up to the charging Lauren James late on to deflect her effort wide.
Extra time was required after a goalless 90 minutes that ended in alarming scenes as Maanum went down off the ball late on.
Paramedics and physios from both teams tended to the midfielder for several minutes, before she left the field on a stretcher and with an oxygen mask on, Arsenal later announcing she was stable and talking.
Ultimately, in front of 21,462 spectators – a new Women’s League Cup record attendance – it was Blackstenius who produced the moment of magic.
The Swede muscled away from Cuthbert in the area and fired in to clinch a record-extending seventh League Cup crown for Arsenal.
More follows.
Line-ups
Arsenal Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Zinsberger
- 2Fox
- 6WilliamsonSubstituted forCodinaat 45′minutes
- 3Wubben-Moy
- 15McCabeSubstituted forCooney-Crossat 105′minutes
- 21Pelova
- 10Little
- 9MeadSubstituted forCatleyat 84′minutes
- 12MaanumSubstituted forRussoat 90+13′minutes
- 24LacasseSubstituted forFoordat 72′minutes
- 25Blackstenius
Substitutes
- 7Catley
- 14D’Angelo
- 19Foord
- 23Russo
- 26Wienroither
- 27Codina
- 32Cooney-Cross
- 40Williams
- 53Lia
Chelsea Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 24Hampton
- 15Périsset
- 7Carter
- 26Buchanan
- 21Charles
- 22CuthbertBooked at 90mins
- 8Leupolz
- 19Rytting Kaneryd
- 6NüskenSubstituted forMacárioat 96′minutes
- 10JamesBooked at 51minsSubstituted forBeever-Jonesat 119′minutes
- 35RamÃrezSubstituted forReitenat 77′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Musovic
- 5Ingle
- 9Macário
- 11Reiten
- 12Lawrence
- 14Kirby
- 23Hamano
- 30Berger
- 33Beever-Jones
- Referee:
- Cheryl Foster
- Attendance:
- 21,462
Live Text
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Match ends, Arsenal Women 1, Chelsea Women 0.
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Second Half Extra Time ends, Arsenal Women 1, Chelsea Women 0.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Emily Fox.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Emily Fox.
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Substitution, Chelsea Women. Agnes Beever-Jones replaces Lauren James.
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Goal! Arsenal Women 1, Chelsea Women 0. Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
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Emily Fox (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lauren James (Chelsea Women).
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Attempt saved. Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Caitlin Foord.
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Attempt missed. Catarina Macário (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
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Hand ball by Emily Fox (Arsenal Women).
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Emily Fox (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lauren James (Chelsea Women).
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Attempt blocked. Caitlin Foord (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Steph Catley.
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Attempt missed. Lauren James (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Melanie Leupolz.
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Attempt blocked. Catarina Macário (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
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Attempt missed. Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Alessia Russo.
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Substitution, Arsenal Women. Kyra Cooney-Cross replaces Katie McCabe.
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Second Half Extra Time begins Arsenal Women 0, Chelsea Women 0.
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First Half Extra Time ends, Arsenal Women 0, Chelsea Women 0.
Source Agencies
