2025 Women's League Cup final
| Event | 2024–25 Women's League Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Date | 15 March 2025 | ||||||
| Venue | Pride Park, Derby | ||||||
| Player of the Match | Millie Bright (Chelsea) | ||||||
| Referee | Emily Heaslip | ||||||
| Attendance | 14,187 | ||||||
The 2025 Women's League Cup final was the fourteenth final of the Women's League Cup, England's secondary cup competition for women's football teams and its primary league cup tournament. It took place on 15 March 2025 at Pride Park, and was contested by Chelsea and Manchester City.
Chelsea made their sixth consecutive (and sixth overall) appearance in a League Cup final, having lost the previous three editions. Manchester City were contest their first League Cup Final since 2022, which was also against Chelsea.
Chelsea won the match 2–1 and clinched their third title. Maya Ramirez gave Chelsea an early lead when her saved effort richoted back into her path off Laia Alexandri. Manchester City were able to find an equaliser thanks to a rasping effort from Aoba Fujino. But it was Chelsea who would go on to lift the cup, when Yui Hasegawa's attempt to block Ramirez's cross looped past Ayaka Yamashita and into her own net. [1]
Route to the final
Chelsea
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| GS | Bye | |
| QF | Durham (H) | 5–0 |
| SF | West Ham United (H) | 2–0 |
| Key: (H) = Home; (A) = Away | ||
Chelsea entered the competition at the knockout stage due to their participation in the UEFA Women's Champions League.
In their quarter-final, they were drawn at home to Durham. Aggie Beever-Jones opened the scoring midway through the first half, heading in Ashley Lawrence's deflected cross. Durham were able to hold Chelsea at bay for just over an hour, but once Oriane Jean-François scored with a thunderous volley from the edge of the box, the floodgates opened. Erin Cuthbert converted another Lawrence cross, Guro Reiten scrambled home a corner, and Maika Hamano beat the keeper with a looping cross that flew straight into the net.[2]
In their semi-final, they were drawn at home against West Ham United. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd beat Kinga Szemik at her near post with a stinging drive after just twenty minutes to give Chelsea the lead, and nine minutes later, the Blues' spot in the final was secured. Sjoeke Nüsken pounced on a loose pass in the defence, played a one-two with Reiten, rounded Szemik and slotted the ball into the empty net.[3]
Manchester City
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| GS | Bye | |
| QF | Manchester United (A) | 1–2 |
| SF | Arsenal (A) | 1–2 |
| Key: (H) = Home; (A) = Away | ||
Manchester City entered the competition at the knockout stage due to their participation in the UEFA Women's Champions League.
In their quarter-final, they were drawn away to local rivals Manchester United, who had previously beaten them 4–2 at the Etihad Stadium.[4] They were well on their way to avenging that defeat when Laura Coombs converted Lily Murphy's low cross at the near post. However, Manchester United equalised thanks to Millie Turner's well-executed volley. It would prove to be in vain, however, as on the cusp of half time, Murphy cut inside and curled a brilliant effort from the edge of the box beyond the dive of Phallon Tullis-Joyce.[5]
In their semi-final, they were drawn away to reigning champions Arsenal. Like in the previous round, Manchester City had lost to their opponents in the league days earlier, but once again, they would avenge that defeat.[6] Manchester City took the lead through Mary Fowler with a thumping finish following a barnstorming run from Vivianne Miedema. Arsenal were able to find an equaliser in the second half with a penalty from Mariona Caldentey, and Daphne van Domselaar then saved a penalty from Fowler minutes later. With the game approaching extra-time, Manchester City launched one final attack and Mary Fowler scored the winner from the edge of the box with virtually the last kick of the game.[7]
Match
Details
| Chelsea | 2–1 | Manchester City |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Fujino  64' |
          Chelsea
|
    Manchester City
|
|
 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.svg.png){kind=small}
.svg.png){kind=small}
|
Player of the match: |
Match rules
|
References
- ↑ "Women's League Cup final: Chelsea 2-1 Man City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
- ↑ "Chelsea vs Durham: Women's League Cup stats & head-to-head". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
- ↑ "Chelsea 2-0 West Ham: Blues reach Women's League Cup final for sixth successive time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
- ↑ "Man City 2-4 Man Utd: Ella Toone hat-trick gives United thrilling derby win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
- ↑ "Women's League Cup: Man City beat Man Utd to reach semi-finals, Arsenal, Chelsea & West Ham also through". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
- ↑ "Manchester City 3-4 Arsenal: Gunners claim victory in seven-goal WSL thriller". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
- ↑ "Arsenal vs Man City LIVE: Women's League Cup semi-final stream, score & updates". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2025-10-25.