Latest news with #SubwayWLC
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sonia Bompastor believes Chelsea quadruple is possible after Subway League Cup victory
By Laura Howard at Pride Park Sonia Bompastor believes her Chelsea side have the quality to do the quadruple after they beat Manchester City to win the Subway Women's League Cup. The Blues triumphed 2-1 at Pride Park through a Mayra Ramirez opener and Yui Hasegawa own goal to seal Bompastor's first trophy as Chelsea boss. The victory kept hopes of a quadruple alive, with Chelsea undefeated in all competitions this season. They play Manchester City a further three times in the next 12 days in the Champions League and Barclays Women's Super League and Bompastor is backing her side to go all the way, with her side also in the semi finals of the Adobe Women's FA Cup. 'We have a lot of quality,' she responded. 'But, again, when you reflect on the game, the other teams also have a lot of quality. 'It was tough today, but I think our mentality is the right one. We work really hard. Every time we step on the pitch, we just put our heart on the pitch, which is the right thing to do. 'There's fine margins and also small details going into these games, so sometimes it goes the way you want, sometimes not. 'Hopefully, for the next games, we'll have the game going where we want.' 🏆 @ChelseaFCW ARE THE 2025 #SubwayWLC WINNERS! 🏆 — Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) March 15, 2025 For the rest of Saturday, Bompastor can savour a hard-fought victory in front of 14,187 fans at Pride Park in Derby. It is the first tangible reward the French manager has for what has so far proved a stellar first season in west London. 'It feels great. I'm really happy. I just said before the game, the most important thing is that we bring a trophy to the club,' she reflected. 'From the beginning of the season, we said we are really ambitious. When we have the opportunity to win the first title, that's always really positive. I'm really happy for that reason, but also really proud of my players.' Yet while there was jubilation at the final whistle, Bompastor still feels there is room for improvement for her side who saw Ramirez and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd squander two brilliant chances that would have made the victory far more comfortable. 'The performance was maybe not a great one. But again, we found a way to win the game,' she said. 'I know this team has more than what we showed today. 'My first experience as a coach was head of the academy and the main thing there was to make sure the performance was the priority. 'When you play with these big clubs and with the first teams, your job as a manager is to make sure you win the games. That's the most important thing. 'I would love to have both. I would be the happiest person. But when it's not possible and when you have room for improvement, the one thing I would pick is winning.' Golden Girls. 🏅 — Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) March 15, 2025 It is reflective of the mentality that has powered Chelsea eight points clear in the league and makes them favourites to progress from their Champions League quarter final tie with City. Their opponents were facing their first game under the charge of Nick Cushing following the dismissal of Gareth Taylor earlier in the week. It was far from a concerning display for the Citizens but they lacked a clinical edge and only forced Chelsea out of a state of cruise control in the moments following their equaliser. For Cushing, however, there were positive signs which he feels he can build on ahead of a further three meetings with the newly-crowned League Cup champions. 'We did enough to win the game today. We had many, many moments and I was proud of that,' he said. 'You could see some slight adjustments in the way that we want to play and that made us more of a threat. 'We have real belief that we could get back into the game after we were 1-0 down. We had a huge chance. I think these finals always swing on moments. 'Obviously the moment fell to Chelsea and we didn't get back in at 2-1. I've seen enough to know that we can be competitive in the next three games.'
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Five things we learned as Chelsea triumph to lift League Cup
By Laura Howard Chelsea emerged 2-1 winners against Manchester City in their first final of the season to lift the Subway Women's League Cup at Pride Park. Mayra Ramirez and Aoba Fujino exchanged goals before Yui Hasegawa's own goal handed Chelsea the silverware, their first under Sonia Bompastor. It also marked the first time Nick Cushing took charge of City since he departed the club in 2020, following Gareth Taylor's sacking earlier in the week leading up to the final. Here are five things we learned from an encounter which is set to be played a further three times in the next two weeks. Chelsea pass their latest test to remain unbeaten As Manchester City stare at a further three fixtures against the Barclays Women's Super League's reigning champions, it is a prospect no club would envy at the moment. While the saying goes that anything can happen in a final, on Saturday it never really looked like there would be any other outcome than Chelsea blue ribbons adorning the trophy come full time. Sonia Bompastor's side looked comfortable for the duration of the first half as they guarded a 1-0 lead from City's underwhelming efforts in attack. While City had spells of possession, it felt more that Chelsea were allowing such supposed dominance than City were entirely outclassing their opponents. It took a moment of individual brilliance from Aoba Fujino to break the rhythm of a game that had looked fixed on one course until that moment. But following a period of flux that saw City have their best chances of the game, Chelsea resumed their usual confidence and, in doing so, their lead. There was no sense that the favourites were overawed by pressure or occasion as they went about their business without really having to find their upper gears. It is reflective of a team who appear utterly dominant in English football at the moment and City will have their work cut out to change that in the following three meetings. 🏆 @ChelseaFCW ARE THE 2025 #SubwayWLC WINNERS! 🏆 — Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) March 15, 2025 City's lack of depth shows When Manchester City restored parity through Aoba Fujino in the 64th minute it signalled a shift in momentum in the match which was anyone's to seize. Prior to the goal the game had settled into a rhythmic affair with little sparkle, but the strike injected a new energy and openness. It was a perfect moment to bring on fresh legs, as both managers turned to their bench, but the options Bompastor saw behind her clearly looked more appealing. It was four changes for the Blues leading into the closing 20 minutes of the match, with three of those coming in the forward line as Aggie Beever-Jones, Maika Hamano and Wieke Kaptein were all introduced. The latter saw a shot blocked in the closing moments while it was Hamano that was poised in the box, forcing Yui Hasegawa to make an intervention that led to the own goal. City, on the other hand, made just two changes with Kerolin and Jess Park introduced with less than 10 minutes to go, the Brazilian replacing Bunny Shaw who was struggling with her hamstring. It saw momentum seized by Chelsea in the closing 10 minutes as the Manchester side struggled to get back into the game after falling behind for a second time. Is Cushing the answer? Manchester City came into the match with a new manager at the helm in the form of Nick Cushing and were by no means outplayed by a Chelsea side who are yet to be beaten. For large spells City looked comfortable in possession and came off the better in big moments in defence as Ayaka Yamashita pulled out important saves, including denying Johanna Rytting Kaneryd one-on-one. It was one of the big selection conundrums presented to Cushing as Khiara Keating has had spells in favour this season under Gareth Taylor, and it was one that paid off. The only change he made, albeit seeing Aoba Fujino return from injury in place of Jess Park, also paid off as the winger produced a stunning individual run down the pitch before unleashing a stinging effort to get back on level terms. It is a promising sign for City fans in the first few days under Cushing's charge, but they will hope for further improvement down the line as City still struggled to create high quality chances. Thank you so much to the best fans in the world for making the trip down to Pride Park with us today 🩵 — Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) March 15, 2025 Fujino shines despite defeat for City After struggling to make an impact in the first half of the season, Fujino proved on Saturday that she has certainly found her feet in England now. The Japanese international was a threat from the outset as she frequently looked to cut inside off the right wing. She had arguably City's best chance of the first-half following a well-worked short corner routine that saw her find space to the right of the box from which she could curl a searching effort across the goal towards the far post. While that was saved, Fujino remained a persistent threat and for 13 minutes in the second half looked like she could have handed City the lifeline that proved their salvation. A goal of her own creation, the winger exchanged passes on the halfway line before spotting space ahead for her to burst into with purpose. Seeing no reason to stop, Fujino accelerated into the right of the box before firing a stinging shot at an angle from which she had no right to score and, helped by Hannah Hampton's misjudgement, had City on level terms. It is a needed reminder for City that despite their injuries concerns, they have plenty of quality amongst those available to them. Chelsea need to improve their clinical edge against better opposition While Nick Cushing was happy with his side's display, Sonia Bompastor felt her side were capable of better despite their win. It was reflective of a game in which her side squandered plenty of chances to make their win far more comfortable. Even Mayra Ramirez's opener came after she had placed a chance one-on-one with Ayaka Yamashita straight at the City 'keeper, with a fortunate deflection off Laia Aleixandri meaning she was able to bundle home. Golden Girls. 🏅 — Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) March 15, 2025 The Colombian forward was guilty of a missed opportunity later in the first-half as another opening on goal saw her shot ripple the wrong side of the net after she had attempted to round Yamashita. Whether indicative of an excellent performance from the Japanese goalkeeper, or an indication of a Chelsea weakness, Rytting Kaneryd also squandered a chance to lead 2-0 as she could not get enough height on her attempted chip over Yamashita. While Chelsea came away unscathed from their wastefulness today, against more clinical opposition and stronger defences in Europe, the Blues will need to ensure they take those chances.
Telegraph
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Chelsea vs Manchester City: Build-up and latest Women's League Cup final updates
Latest updates Women's sport reporter 15 March 2025 • 11:19am 11:17AM Manchester City team news How we line up for the #SubwayWLC final 🩵 XI | Yamashita, Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri (C), Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Miedema, Roord, Fujino, Fowler, Shaw SUBS | Keating, Layzell, Coombs, Wienroither, Kerolin, Park, Blindkilde Brown, Oyama, Murphy #ManCity | @etihad — Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) March 15, 2025 11:16AM Chelsea team news Your finalists. 👀 #CFCW — Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) March 15, 2025 11:13AM Chelsea take on City in the Women's League Cup final Good morning and welcome to The Telegraph 's live coverage of the Women's League Cup final as Chelsea and Manchester City will face each other in Derby for the first women's domestic cup of the season. The men's final between Liverpool and Newcastle takes place tomorrow at Wembley, but for now all attention turns northwards for the first of four successive matches between these two teams. First is the League Cup final, then the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final, a league match and then the second leg of the European competition. Chelsea are still unbeaten this season and will want to secure a first trophy for Sonia Bompastor who took over from Emma Hayes after she left at the end of last season. Manchester City also have a new person at the helm after sacking Gareth Taylor at the start of this week, with Nick Cushing taking over as interim head coach.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Outrageous': Mary Fowler responds after brutal moment for Matildas favourite
Matildas superstar Mary Fowler bounced back from the heartache of a penalty miss to fire Manchester City into the final of the Women's League Cup, following a stunning goal-scoring double in the 2-1 win against Arsenal. The Aussie fan favourite scored both goals for City, including a late winner deep into stoppage time to fire her side into the Cup final against Chelsea and break the hearts of Arsenal's Matildas contingent - which includes Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord. Days after scoring twice against the same opposition in the Women's Super League, Fowler was at it again, and opened the scoring against Arsenal in extraordinary fashion. The Matildas forward was put through on goal down the right flank but still had plenty of work to do after collecting the ball in the attacking third and driving at the Gunners' defence. Fowler burst into the box before unleashing a thunderous strike near the edge of the area that gave Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar no chance as it rifled into the far side of the net. City teammates ran from all directions to celebrate the thunderbolt with Fowler, as City looked to press home their advantage. MARY FOWLER THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS 🤯An excellent charge from Miedema to set up Fowler from a long ranged strike! #SubwayWLC @ManCityWomen — Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) February 6, 2025 However, Arsenal found themselves on level terms when they were awarded a penalty and Mariona Caldentey stepped up to dispatch the spot-kick, leaving the Cup semi-final balanced on a knife's edge. Moments after the Gunners' equaliser, Fowler was presented with a golden opportunity to fire her side back in front after another penalty was awarded. But the 21-year-old Matildas ace chose to fire the spot-kick down the middle and van Domselaar didn't budge, with the ball clattering into the Arsenal keeper and away to safety. Fowler threw her hands to her head in agony after squandering the chance to regain the lead for City but she made amends deep into time added on when the match appeared to be heading towards extra time. Save ❌| Daphne van Domselaar saves Mary Fowler's penalty seconds after Arsenal equalized via Penalty — Rookie for Lyfe (@RookieForLyfe) February 6, 2025 Fowler received the ball on the edge of the Gunners box, before jinking onto her weaker left foot and sending a 95th-minute winner into the bottom corner of Arsenal's goal to spark joyous celebrations from her Manchester City teammates. The goal was the perfect way for Fowler to redeem herself after the earlier penalty miss, with City's manager Gareth Taylor praising his Aussie superstar. "Mary was great - you know you wouldn't have realised she missed the penalty," Taylor said after describing Fowler as a "real bright light". He added: "There was no change at all in her level. You could see she was really determined to try and help the team and thankfully for us she got one over the line at the end." It caps off a memorable week for Fowler after her previous brace against Arsenal and the news she'll return for the Matildas in the SheBelieves Cup in the USA later this month. Football Australia named a 23-player Matildas squad on Tuesday, with Fowler to return after opting to skip their most recent friendlies against Brazil and Chinese Taipei in November. She made the call to prioritise her physical and mental health after a gruelling recent schedule for club and country. Fowler took a well-earned break with NRL star boyfriend Nathan Cleary instead, with the loved-up pair heading to Queensland to recharge the batteries. And the decision has worked wonders, with Fowler returning to Manchester City in sensational form. Fowler's latest double means she's now registered seven goals and three assists in her last six games in England. And the Matildas will be hoping she continues the stellar form at international level next month. Fans were left saddened over the news of Fowler's withdrawal at the time, but understood her decision and sent the 21-year-old well-wishes.
