Chelsea checked off their first piece of silverware in their ongoing pursuit of a quadruple under new manager Sonia Bompastor following their 2-1 win against Manchester City in the League Cup final on Saturday.
Mayra Ramirez’s first-half goal and an own goal from Yui Hasegawa proved the difference in a tight contest. The triumph continues Chelsea’s undefeated run under Bompastor since the French coach’s arrival at the end of last season and consigned Nick Cushing to defeat in his first match in interim charge since taking over from Gareth Taylor earlier this week.
The Women’s Super League leaders opened the scoring in the eighth minute. Lauren James threaded Mayra Ramirez in behind City’s backline. Goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita did well to block the initial shot but was unlucky as the ball ricocheted off defender Laia Aleixandri back into the path of Ramirez, who walked it over the line.
City responded well, Vivianne Miedema, Mary Fowler and Khadija “Bunny” Shaw putting Chelsea’s defence under pressure. But quality in the third was largely for want with both teams struggling to find quality on the ball and not helped by the arid state of the pitch at Pride Park, the home of second-tier Derby County.
Bompastor’s side, however, seemed to react better to the conditions, knocking the ball into space behind City’s backline for Ramirez to run onto. The Colombia international should have done better to double Chelsea’s advantage mid-way through the first half after a slip from Aleixandri gifted her a golden one-on-one opportunity.
YOUR SUBWAY WOMEN’S LEAGUE CUP WINNERS 2025: CHELSEA! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/d9IMDBRMaI
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) March 15, 2025
City continued to be the better side for much of the contest and were rewarded for their diligence in the 65th minute as Aoba Fujino’s stunning solo strike restored parity.
But a moment of misfortune with 13 minutes remaining decided the contest as Ramirez’s low, fizzing cross bobbled upwards towards Hasegawa, who turned the ball into the far corner of her own net.
Chelsea and City will face each other three more times over the next two weeks, once in the WSL and twice over a two-legged Champions League quarter-final.
A 9pm curfew for Chelsea
Chelsea captain Millie Bright was pleased to come out on top in what was a close contest between two closely-matched teams.
“It was always going to be a tight game. They had chances, we had chances,” she told the BBC.
“We defended really well front to back and should have put a couple more chances away. The mentality to never give in is something that Chelsea have had in their DNA for a long time. We always find a way to win whether it’s a good day or a bad day.”
The two teams meet again on Wednesday meaning limited recovery — and party — time between now and the Champions League quarter-final first leg. A league game follows next Sunday before the second leg the following Thursday.
“We have a spa day recovery tomorrow as we play again on Wednesday — and again and then again,” defender Lucy Bronze added.
“We want to enjoy it but have to be smart. Silverware is what matters, it was important to get one trophy in the bank. That means the season is a success.”
Bompastor wants the squad to enjoy a first trophy of the year — but not too much.
“My players know exactly the rules,” she added. “I told them that it’s important to celebrate for sure, but we have a game against City on Wednesday and we’ll need to be ready because again, we expect a tough game.”
Will the players celebrate tonight? “No, they can just got out until 9pm. 9:30 in bed,” she said.
(Cameron Smith/Getty Images)