CONTINENTAL CUP 2023: ARSENAL BEATS CHELSEA 3-1 TO WIN WOMEN’S LEAGUE CUP AFTER FIVE YEARS

At Selhurst Park in London on Sunday, Arsenal women defeated Chelsea women 3-1 to claim the FA Women’s League Cup 2023, commonly known as the Continental Cup.

Having taken over as manager in 2021, Jonas Eidevall led Arsenal to their first League Cup victory since 2018 and their first under his leadership. It was also the Swedish player’s first trophy with the team and Arsenal’s first since 2019.

Captain Little told the BBC, “We’re Arsenal and we need to win titles and trophies. We’re sad we haven’t been able to do it until now, but we’ve done it.

2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018…

2023! WE’VE DONE IT AGAIN! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/nL59ZyNFsq

— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) March 5, 2023

Within 102 seconds of the game’s start, Sam Kerr appeared to have given Chelsea the lead by scoring in her third straight League Cup final.

However, Stina Blackstenius scored the equalizer in the 16th minute after Ann-Katrin Berger had first made a save. Eight minutes later, Sophie Ingle fouled Catie McCabe in the box, and Kim Little made no mistakes in converting the penalty kick.

For the reigning WSL Champion, Niahm Charles’ own goal shortly before the first half only made things worse. While Chelsea had a lot of second-half action, mostly through set-plays, it was a brave Manuela Zinsberger who stood like a rock between the posts to secure a victory for the Arsenal.