Manchester United came up short in Sunday's Women's League Cup final, losing 2-0 to Chelsea after a catastrophic Dominique Janssen error gifted Lauren James the opening goal. Marc Skinner's side did have plenty of the play in Bristol across the course of the 90 minutes, but their hopes of a fightback were extinguished by substitute Aggie Beever-Jones in the second half.
Elisabeth Terland came close to opening the scoring inside the first two minutes when she forced Hannah Hampton into a save from 25 yards out, but United fell behind when Janssen was robbed by James after mis-controlling a throw-in close to her own penalty area. England star James was thus able to dribble into the box and send Phallon Tullis-Joyce the wrong way with her finish.
United looked to fight back as Terland threatened again, first firing wide from the edge of the area before striking the crossbar with an angled drive. Maya Le Tissier had to be on her toes at the other end, however, as she chased back to deny Alyssa Thompson after the United States forward was sent through on goal.
Ellen Wangerheim blew United's best chance in the final seconds of the first half when she scuffed a shot from close range following Melvine Malard's fine run and cross, while Lisa Naalsund stung Hampton's palms not long after the break.
Chelsea, though, eventually got a foothold in the game and secured the first silverware of the season when Beever-Jones held off Hanna Lundqvist and forced the ball past Tullis-Joyce from close range.
GOAL rates United's players from Ashton Gate...