Games between Chelsea and Man City are generally something special. Whether they be knife-edge tension-filled title-deciders – or barnstorming basketball matches with inevitable last-minute drama. They are often the matches which decide the success of seasons for these two teams, and in recent years have been *the* fixture of English women’s football.
This match was not like that. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, although a cup semi-final, the late October slot in the calendar (due to the delay enforced by COVID-19 to the 2020/21 FA Cup) meant it didn’t really feel like a match in the latter stages of any competition – or one that was pivotal in either side’s season.
Secondly, City’s awful start to the season has firmly entrenched them as the third wheel behind Arsenal and Chelsea in the Big 3. Three losses in their first five league games has put them out of title contention before the clocks had even gone back in the UK, and their side has been ravaged by injury. Truthfully, despite the constantly repeated caveat pre-game that City are still an excellent team with world class players, this was the most confident Chelsea could be in years heading into an away game against our Manchester rivals. On paper and form, Chelsea did look like they would outmatch City.
That expectation proved to be the case, as Chelsea eased to what ended up being a very comfortable 3-0 win, and advanced to our fourth FA Cup Final. That game is set to be played on the 5th December, and will be an all-London affair after Arsenal beat Brighton 3-0 in their semi-final. It will likely be a showpiece occasion between the two teams who have established themselves as a cut above the rest in England this season. Arsenal have already beaten Chelsea once this season, and given the pace they have set at the top of the WSL this season, will be a far tougher test than Gareth Taylor’s side proved on Sunday.
Before the international break, Chelsea had been in winning form, with back-to-back victories over Leicester in the WSL, and Juventus in the Champions League. October had been dominated by the peerless performances of Pernille Harder, and the Denmark captain had continued her fine form over the international break. Unfortunately, a minor injury ruled her out of this one, in a blow for Chelsea.
Despite City’s weakened line up, they did start well, and there was little to separate the two sides in the opening exchanges. Chelsea had come closest with a couple of half chances for Aniek Nouwen and Fran Kirby, before Erin Cuthbert broke the deadline with a brilliant volleyed finish from a Guro Reiten corner.
Having gone 1-0 down, Man City shrunk into themselves, and Chelsea were able to take control of the tie entirely just five minutes later, when midfielder Melanie Leupolz’s lasered finish arrowed its way through the City defence and into the bottom corner.
There was to be none of the drama that so often comes with this fixture. Chelsea were able to dictate play and mainly keep their opponents at arm’s length. It was a professional and assured performance from Chelsea, and in truth City looked a shadow of the side which has caused Chelsea so much difficulty over the years. It was encouraging that Chelsea were able to win without the contributions of Pernille Harder, who has been so important for the Blues this month. The Dane’s heroics had bailed Chelsea out on several occasions this October – but we have not yet become wholly reliant on her.
Hayes was able to make substitutions late on to rest starting players, and it was two subs who combined for Chelsea’s third – a Jessie Fleming cross being well met by Bethany England’s forehead, who had impressed in her 30 minutes on the pitch. The only real threat on the Chelsea goal came in the 90th minute, with Ann-Katrin Berger being called upon to make an outstanding save from a quality Jess Park strike, which had looked destined for the top corner.
It was Man City’s biggest home defeat since 2014, and their injury-ravaged season is already looking like a write-off. Given City’s woes this season, a 3-0 away win doesn’t come with quite the same sense of triumph as it normally would against our rivals – Chelsea were too in control, too clearly a cut above. Instead, it more had the feel of quiet satisfaction and pats on the back all round for a job well done. The sense is the real challenge will come at Wembley, in early December.
Final score: Man City 0-3 Chelsea
Goalscorers: Cuthbert, Leupolz, England
Assists: Reiten, Fleming
Line up (3-4-3): Berger; Bright, Nouwen, Eriksson (c); Carter, Ingle, Leupolz (Spence 73), Reiten (Fleming 73); Cuthbert; Kirby (Charles 79), Kerr (England 58)
Unused subs: Musovic, Ji, James, Andersson, Fox
Attendance: 1,343
The Glory Hayes 