Manchester United stun Chelsea to set up Women’s FA Cup final with Spurs

It took Manchester United a long time to beat Chelsea, but when they finally did, they did it impressively. They scored two goals within the first 25 minutes, leading them to a 2-1 victory. This win also secured their spot in the FA Cup final at Wembley, which they will participate in for the second year in a row. Unfortunately, Chelsea lost their chance to defend their title.

This would be the initial instance since 2005 when a team that isn't Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester City manages to win the trophy. Back then, Charlton defeated Everton 1-0 at Boleyn Ground, while Tottenham had secured their spot in the final with a goal scored in the extra time against Leicester.

One hour before the match began, the teamsheet caused anger among United supporters present in the stadium. The reason for their frustration was the choice to include Rachel Williams in the starting line-up. Assigned to a substitute role in most games, Williams is 36 years old, which further added to the confusion surrounding her selection.

This season, the United manager has been consistently targeted with the chant "Skinner out". Prior to the match, the fans once again expressed their dissatisfaction with the manager, attributing the team's failure to compete in the WSL and Champions League to his leadership.

Marc Skinner emerged victorious at Leigh Sports Village, as Williams delivered an exceptional performance that kept the Chelsea defense on their toes. Skinner's decision to start her was well-rewarded, proving the manager's judgment to be accurate.

Skinner shrugged off the negative feedback directed towards him, stating that it doesn't faze him. He emphasized that regardless of others' opinions, he remains committed to his goal of contributing to the team's success. Even if individuals continue to dislike him despite his efforts, he maintains that it's not a significant concern.

In just under a minute, United managed to score first. This was due to Ève Périsset's unsure pass to Hannah Hampton, which wasn't far enough. As a result, Leah Galton was able to take advantage and move forward before sending a crossed ball to the back post. This is where Lucía García was sitting, ready to score the goal.

These two teams don't have a good relationship and are playing again after last season's final, in which Chelsea won 1-0. Skinner mentioned that they needed to change their strategy to beat Chelsea. They had to focus on attacking more directly and work hard even without having possession of the ball.

The second goal for United was scored after 23 minutes. Ella Toone managed to shake off Melanie Leupolz's attempt to stop her on the left side of the field. This caused the Germany midfielder to fall down. After that, Toone passed the ball to the middle, and Williams used her head to score the second goal and impress the 6,876 people watching the game. Skinner commented that Chelsea probably didn't expect Rachel to be a part of United's starting lineup, which gave United an advantage.

Toone's effortless evasion of Leupolz reflected the challenging midfield clash that Chelsea faced. Toone, Lisa Naalsund, and Zelem's vigor proved difficult for Chelsea to handle and as a result, their defense was left vulnerable.

This particular team belongs to Emma Hayes, and even though they haven't been performing their best recently, one should never underestimate them. They've faced similar situations against United before, managing to recover from a losing position twice and securing a 4-2 victory that earned them the championship title on the final day in May 2022. United has never managed to obtain more than one point against Chelsea throughout their five seasons in the WSL.

The team made a crucial comeback with a goal that was scored during the extended time towards the end of the first half. Niamh Charles passed the ball to Lauren James from the left, who then shot it high into the net while contending with Millie Turner. The opposing team tried to quickly retrieve the ball to resume the match, but was unsuccessful.

In the second half, Mary Earps made a great reflex save to stop James's shot and keep United in the lead. She did this as the other team, who were playing away, tried harder to score and equalise. Chelsea also had some bad luck as they were denied two strong penalty claims. The first was for a handball by Zelem, and the second was for a challenge by Williams on Charles.

Hayes stated that both incidents were clearly penalties. He expressed his confusion over the decision not to give them. He has frequently stated that incorporating technology in the game would be helpful for referees.

With just 20 minutes left in the game, Hayes made some aggressive changes on the field. Macario and Nüsken were brought in as substitutes, followed by Kirby and Beever-Jones. This was done in an attempt to increase their chances of scoring.

The game didn't meet the expectations of the team. After eight additional minutes, the players of United shouted in happiness while their bench and staff rushed onto the field. Sadly, the Chelsea players fell down, and it marked the end of Hayes's Chelsea dynasty after their second cup defeat. However, they still have to play for the league and Champions League.