Chelsea fly past Manchester United under the arch of Wembley Stadium to lift the FA Cup and secure a historic domestic treble.
What started as a cagey affair was blown wide open after a bad challenge from Celin Bizet awarded Chelsea a first half penalty. Cool from the spot, Sandy Baltimore fired the Blues into the lead before the stroke of half time.
United came out stronger in the second half, but the high was minimal after goals from Catarina Macario and Sandy Baltimore sealed the deal for Chelsea in securing the domestic treble under the arch.
Read live coverage and player ratings below.
The Lineups
CHE: Hampton; Bronze, Bright, Björn, Girma, Charles; Walsh, Cuthbert, Baltimore; Beever-Jones, Ramírez
MUN: Tullis-Joyce; Mannion, Le Tissier, Turner, George; Janssen, Miyazawa, Clinton; Bizet, Terland, Galton
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The Action
Chelsea were awarded with the first chance of the afternoon as Aggie Beever-Jones stormed down the right channel with intent before her strike was deflected and well saved by Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
At the other end, United looked eager to break the deadlock as Grace Clinton played Elisabeth Terland through on the wing. The Norwegian’s entry was blocked by the Chelsea defence, but the rebound fell right into the path of Dominique Janssen who fired her strike just high of the target much to the relief of the fans in Blue.
The Red Devils were saved at the death as Mayra Ramirez crossed over Millie Turner before cutting her strike across the goal. The ball bobbled in front of Lucy Bronze before a fine intervention from Tullis-Joyce and a disciplined tracking run from Leah Galton allowed George to send away the remains.
A late challenge from Celin Bizet brought Cuthbert down inside the area, leaving Stacey Fullicks with no choice but to point to the spot. Sandy Baltimore stepped up to the spot, delivering her spot kick straight into the bottom left corner to give Chelsea the lead with class.
A half time change from Marc Skinner saw Ella Toone enter the midfield group, with centre back Millie Turner withdrawn.
Cat Macario’s entrance at the 60th minute brought an injection of life into the Blues side. The American tried to conjure something out of nothing down the left flank, curling her cross into the path of Lucy Bronze who failed to get a meaningful touch on the ball.
Cobham graduate and childhood Blue Aggie Beever-Jones had the chance to write her name into the history books as the clock ticked down, but fired her strike way over the bar and into the stands.
A free kick on the wide angle allowed Chelsea to bury the game in the 84th minute, as pin-point delivery from Baltimore was headed home by Macario to secure the FA Cup and the domestic treble.
If the fate wasn’t already sealed, it certainly was in the 91st minute as Wieke Kaptein boomed in a low cross. Baltimore did the work to bring her touch down, before firing her strike into the top left corner.
United completely unravelled as Chelsea pressed on right up until the final whistle. 30 domestic games unbeaten, a domestic treble, unrivalled.
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Chelsea Player Ratings
GK: Hannah Hampton****– 7/10 – Faultless but hardly had any work to do.
CB: Millie Bright – 9/10 – The three Chelsea centre backs were faultless, and Bright was at the core of that.
CB: Nathalie Björn – 9 /10 – Has hardly put a foot wrong all season and continued that form today, a sensational showing.
CB: Naomi Girma – 9/10 – The same as Bright and Björn, a brick wall showing as she continues to find her feet in London.
RWB: Lucy Bronze – 6/10 – Had two really good chances to finish the game but opted to try and play for a penalty. Galton did very well to challenge her defensively, too.
CM: Keira Walsh – 7/10 – A few wasteful moments but overall a good showing.
CM: Erin Cuthbert – 9/10 – Her battle with Clinton was certainly one to watch, and Cuthbert certainly came out on top. Superb as always, she is the beating heart of this Chelsea side.
LWB: Niamh Charles – 8/10 – Did her job with strength despite playing a higher line than usual.
LW: Sandy Baltimore – 10/10 – A standout performer once more for the Blues. Baltimore’s arrival to English football is like fine wine, it gets better the more it ages. Did well to drop into midfield and overload the park. World class showing.
ST: Mayra Ramirez – 6/10 – Really struggles to look threatening on the ball and coughs up possession far too much.
RW: Aggie Beever-Jones – 8/10 – A lively presence for the Blues, a shame she didn’t get a goal for her efforts.
Catarina Macario (60’ for Ramirez) – 9/10 – Absolutely superb. Macario made an instant impact and was rewarded with a well deserved goal. A brilliant finish, no less.
Wieke Kaptein (75’ for Beever-Jones) – N/A
Guro Reiten (92’ for Baltimore) – N/A
Sjoeke Nüsken (92’ for Bronze) -N/A
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (92′ for Cuthbert) – N/A
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Manchester United Player Ratings
GK: Phallon Tullis-Joyce – 6/10 – Second week in a row she’s dove the wrong way for a penalty, but not easy when Chelsea send Baltimore up to the spot. Made some heroic saves, but never enough.
RB: Aoife Mannion – 6/10 – Chelsea’s persistent desire to invert their second winger allowed her some relief for pace. Played her role well but was beaten for cutting edge class.
CB: Maya Le Tissier – 6/10 – Got the better of Ramírez but struggled under the pressure of Baltimore and Beever-Jones. Some really good moments, but some awfully shaky ones.
CB: Millie Turner – N/A – Subbed at half time with an injury.
LB: Gabby George – 6/10 – Some fine interventions but her impressive sliding challenges came as a result of the fact that she really struggled against the run of play.
CDM: Dominique Janssen- 6/10 – Struggled to keep up with Chelsea’s press in the opening half but her second term display was far more headstrong, bringing life to United in the build up.
CM: Hinata Miyazawa – 7/10 – United may be wishing they had two of her. Miyazawa is United’s best ball-user, and she covers every inch of the ground.
CM: Grace Clinton – 5/10 – Cuthbert’s experience won the battle, and won it clearly.
RW: Celin Bizet – 3/10 – Brainless foul to award Chelsea the lead, summing up her afternoon.
LW: Leah Galton – 7/10 – A disciplined display. Worked her lungs out all afternoon covering the length of the flank. Like Mannion, outclassed.
ST: Elisabeth Terland – 2/10 – Could not make anything happen, but the service was never there for her.
Ella Toone (46’ for Turner) – 4/10 – Despite an early shot, didn’t catalyse anything for United, a far cry from the Wembley hero of the past.
Malard (65’ for Mannion) – Brought an influence to the game, but nothing to allow United back into the game.
Anna Sanberg (75’ for George) – N/A
Lisa Naalsund (80’ for Miyazawa) – N/A
Rachel Williams (80’ for Celin Bizet) – N/A
The Halfway Line Player of the Match – Sandy Baltimore