Can Chelsea script perfect ending to Man City mini-series?
"We always seem to find a way," said Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert after her side's dramatic comeback win at Manchester City.It is what the great sides do - and what the Blues have proved time and time again in their dominance of domestic women's football.Cuthbert's injury-time header completed a comeback 2-1 win at Etihad Stadium after a below-par first-half display left them a goal behind and in danger of a first Women's Super League loss this season.Instead they remain eight points clear in top spot - and on course for a sixth successive league title with five games left - after a second win in three titanic tussles with City over the past week."This is a team of champions - Chelsea found a way," ex-England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis told BBC One.A four-game mini-series, which first had Chelsea lifting the Women's League Cup, will conclude on Thursday at Stamford Bridge when the Blues try to overturn a 2-0 deficit from their Champions League quarter-final first leg at City.That defeat ended their 31-game unbeaten run and, having bounced back impressively at City, Sonia Bompastor's side will remain convinced they can stay on course to win that elusive first Champions League trophy.But will Chelsea fight back, or can City, under interim boss Nick Cushing, stay in control and triumph in the fourth meeting of the rivals in 13 days?BBC Sport takes a look at the intriguing battle so far.
The story so far
Game 1: Chelsea 2-1 Man City (Women's League Cup final)Game 2: Man City 2-0 Chelsea (Champions League quarter-final first leg)Game 3: Man City 1-2 Chelsea (Women's Super League)Game 4: Thursday, 27 March (Champions League quarter-final second leg)
Which players have been key so far?
The first part of this gripping story - the League Cup final - was decided by three scrappy goals, but Wednesday's outing at Joie Stadium was decided by two moments of quality from City substitute Vivianne Miedema.Back to form after returning from knee surgery in January, the Netherlands forward provided the ruthlessness which her side badly needed in the cup final defeat.Winger Kerolin was City's main attacking outlet for much of the European tie on Wednesday, causing problems down the right as she teed up Miedema's second.And the 25-year-old Brazilian opened the scoring in Sunday's game three in wonderful fashion, running from the halfway line and wrongfooting Millie Bright before squeezing a finish through the Chelsea captain's legs.But her chances were limited in the second period as Chelsea forward Johanna Rytting Kaneryd made a greater impact at the other end, with her pace and trickery getting the better of Gracie Prior as she set up Chelsea's equaliser for striker Aggie Beever-Jones.Cuthbert was influential when she came off the bench, piling pressure on City's midfield with determined tackles and intense pressing, before a diving header for the winner in added time.
Bompastor v Cushing
It was a bold move from City to replace Gareth Taylor with former boss Cushing in the week of a cup final but, after Wednesday's Champions League victory, it seemed inspired.Cushing won the WSL, Women's FA Cup and three League Cups in seven years at City before leaving in 2020 for MLS side New York City FC.And he has made an instant impact on his return, with his side dominating possession for large parts in all three games and looking solid defensively.They have also impressed going forward - a major achievement considering top scorer Khadija Shaw and key winger Aoba Fujino have been sidelined by injury.Former City midfielder Izzy Christiansen described 'game two' as a "tactical masterclass" from Cushing, with his substitutes after half-time - including Miedema - making the difference.But it was Bompastor's changes, and perhaps a motivational team talk, that saw them show up in the second half on Sunday to wipe out City's one-goal lead.Brown-Finnis said: "They changed their tactical approach and moved Wieke Kaptein higher up, and then the players that came off the bench just showed the depth they have."Bompastor said she reminded her players of the gameplan, adding: "I told them I want to see more belief going into the second half."City's efforts weren't helped by an injury to influential midfielder Yui Hasegawa, while Spain defender Leila Ouahabi started on the bench and keeper Ayaka Yamashita was replaced by Khiara Keating in the line-up with a problem expected to keep her out for a few weeks.Midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown was also added to the list of long-term absentees, watching from the sidelines on crutches after an injury in training earlier this week, while keeper Aya "I think you saw one team that was bringing their key players on, and one team that was having to take their key players off," reflected Cushing.
The most important one still to come…
But it's not over yet. The final part awaits on Thursday and Chelsea have it all to do if they are to make it to the semi-final of the Champions League, where either holders Barcelona or Wolfsburg await.Having lifted the League Cup, the WSL title is within touching distance and they are in the Women's FA Cup semi-finals, but Bompastor's main priority this season is the one trophy the club has not won in their history.Even with City's injury problems, they have quality, and Chelsea know a "perfect game" will be necessary."We know we need to score goals, we have to put them under pressure," Cuthbert told BBC One."We are going to have to play a perfect game, there is no doubt about that."Cushing added: "We are missing some key players at the moment, but we still have some really exciting and attacking players that you know we can use."We've got to believe."
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