Sunday 14th April 2024
Semi Final
Manchester United vs. Chelsea
For on the journey to Wembley, all roads have led back to Leigh – or ‘Wemberleigh’, as it will be decreed from this day forth (in case my sister is reading this, no, ‘Wemberleigh’ isn’t ‘cringe’!) After watching a first round match on a 3G pitch just outside the stadium, I’ve returned to Leigh Sports Village via the North East and now the South East with today’s fixture seeing me back for the (semi) final time. Unlike the men’s game, where semi-finals are held at neutral grounds (or Wembley, as they have been since the new one was built), semi-finals in the Women’s FA Cup are held at the venue of the first teams out of the bag. United were drawn out first – but unlucky for them, the next team drawn were league title challengers, Chelsea. Home advantage vs. arguably the best side in the WSL. Who will reach Wembley proper?
I obviously would be saying this – what with the home side playing a couple of miles from my house and thus helping me save lots and lots (and lots) of money yet again – but not playing the semi final at a neutral ground is the right choice. We’re still in the very early stages of development in women’s professional football, so the crowd numbers simply aren’t there to warrant the games being held at neutral venues right now. Hosting the semis at a participant’s ground ensures an attendance that will likely surpass the average number, considering the magnitude of the occasion. Another benefit is that it lends even more prestige to the final – one of the major criticisms of the men’s semi-finals being held at Wembley is that it takes a little gloss off the showpiece occasion. Reaching Wembley should be the pinnacle, an honour fitting for the showpiece game that the final is – I think the men’s game loses out on that a little bit. Saying that, just like they’ve done on the odd occasion for league games, I was half-expecting this game to be switched to Old Trafford to boost numbers even further. I don’t know if FA Cup rules allow for it but if they do, I suppose switching may run the risk of players struggling to express their usual game in unfamiliar surroundings. Plus, I can’t get the bus direct to Old Trafford so it’s fine by me.
There’s been much speculation and pressure placed on both managers in the run-up to this game. United’s Marc Skinner is out of contract in the summer and is apparently in discussions about a new one. However, after an inconsistent season in the WSL that has seen them drop out of Champions League contention, some supporters have put him under some ‘heavy criticism’, even going as far as chanting for his dismal at a recent training camp in Malta. In fairness to Skinner, he’s defended the supporters for doing this, indicating that ‘everyone is entitled to their opinion’. How interesting would it be if he would deliver the club’s first trophy in the shape of the FA Cup this season? They’ll have to give him a new contract, surely?
Chelsea’s Emma Hayes is definitely off at the end of the season, having agreed to take charge of the United States’ national side. With her Chelsea side still in contention for the WSL title, England’s most-decorated women’s coach is hoping to end her twelve years in charge of the club with a treble – downgraded from a quadruple a fortnight ago, after they lost in the final of the Continental Cup (the Football League Cup-equivalent). This match caused, shall we say, some ‘controversy’ in the media as after the 1-0 extra-time defeat to Arsenal, Hayes refused to shake opposition manager, Jonas Eidevall’s hand, instead pushing him away.
In the post-match interview, she cited ‘male aggression’ [on the touchline] on Eidevall’s part as the reason for her reaction. It’s since been speculated by regular watchers of the WSL that it may have been a crafty diversionary tactic on her part, something she’s not been averse to doing. Apparently, Eidevall was shouting at the fourth official over a violation of an agreement to use a ‘single ball system’. Prior to the match, Arsenal wanted to use a multi-ball system (in which balls are placed at the side of the pitch for easy grabbing – ideal if you want to get on with the game quickly), while Chelsea wanted to use a single-ball system (where it has to be fetched – ideal to waste time/take the sting out of the game). They eventually agreed on the single-ball, and in extra-time with Arsenal a goal up, the ball was kicked out and a Chelsea player grabbed another to quickly get on with the game. This is what led to Eidevall’s reaction and Hayes’ resulting fury (although I’d speculate the defeat mostly contributed to that!) As a result, the hornet’s nest of men’s role in the women’s game has been kicked over once again and internet bores have been regaling us with their opinion that the women’s game is ‘crap’ for the umpteenth time this year, citing this incident and Hayes’ ill-judged comments as proof. If it were indeed a diversionary tactic, I’d like to say (in a non-aggressive way), that it was a very poor decision by Hayes and will do nothing to help the women’s game.
With Chelsea still involved in the title race – and not to mention, being ahead of their opponents by 15 points after 17 games – it can be easy to assume that today’s tie is a foregone conclusion. Chelsea are going to win today, quite comfortably. That’s the beauty of cup football though – when it’s a game of knockout, form and perceived team quality goes out of the window; the pressure ramps up knowing that you’re just a swipe of the ball away from losing this competition. A good example of this is United’s recent tie with Southampton (which was arguably an even larger quality gap, considering Southampton play in the Championship) – after drawing level, Southampton were on top for a spell and could have notched ahead, potentially closing out the game from there. However, United managed to keep them at bay and used their quality at the other end of the field to score the late-clinching goals. Cup football emphasises that ‘professional attitude’ – this isn’t a league match where any shock defeat can be put to one side; if you’re not up for a cup tie, you could get beat and you’ll be out. United have had that attitude in the cup so far – but so have Chelsea; reaching the final of one competition and being involved in the latter stages of the other three. No matter the format, they’ve shown their quality and professionalism throughout. So, we’re in for some game today!
I’m sitting in the West Stand today for a change – this is
the ‘main stand’ here at the LSV, well, it’s the one with the hospitality
boxes, anyway. Sadly, I’m not sat in there, munching on some posh Marks and
Spencer’s butties and crisps, I’m sat close to the corner flag instead. I’ve
chosen this area to watch the match because it’s close to the supporters behind
the goal who have tended to be more boisterous – but the ‘spiciness’ is
happening just down the row from me, as a group of United supporters sing to
the sizeable Chelsea supporter in the stand opposite to ‘go on home’, to the
tune of the timeless nursery rhyme, ‘This Old Man’. Not a single swear word or
accusation on the character was uttered, just a polite scolding!
I was slightly worried that tickets might be hard to obtain for the game, what with it being a semi-final and the initial phase only being open to season ticket holders and club members. Theoretically, all of Manchester United’s membership base could have got a ticket for the game – the club were even offering a £22 deal to see them play Chelsea in this match and a WSL encounter at Old Trafford next month. Thankfully for me, it didn’t sell out, so I was able to purchase with relative ease. I was both pleased and disappointed at this – although obviously pleased at being able to obtain a ticket, I would have thought a game of this magnitude, against one of the best sides in the game, might have attracted a sell-out crowd, so it was a disappointment. LSV is a tiny ground in comparison to Old Trafford and travelling to it isn’t that difficult, considering coaches are laid on from Old Trafford. As it is, we’ve got an above-average crowd here today, which is great and all, but it’s been swelled by around a thousand Chelsea supporters too.
The teams enter the field to much whooping and hollering – the United supporters are sensing they can take advantage of a tired Chelsea today. Aside from their opponents’ busy schedule and the negative press after the Arsenal game, what’s perhaps given them confidence is that the Blues are missing key players in the shape of captain, Millie Bright and Sam Kerr – arguably the best forward player in the women’s game right now. It says a lot about the depth of quality Chelsea have, that they’re still able to field several other big-name internationals – one of whom is Lauren James, who signed for them from United almost three years ago. The supporters behind the other goal – the one with the terrace (which is actually the first time I’ve seen it open on this, my fourth-ever visit here!) – give her name a pantomime boo when it’s announced. Is there some drama here that I’m not aware of? Are they not happy at her leaving for Chelsea? Are they simply trying to create a sense of intimidation for Chelsea’s foremost attacking talent right now? Whatever their reasoning, it’s forgotten barely a minute into the game – as their side take the lead.
From kick-off, the ball pings between the two sides, eventually landing at the feet of Mary Earps, who boots it long, out to the left. After a flick-on, Chelsea defender Eve Perisset looks like she’s going to clear, but she doesn’t get much on the ball, allowing United’s Leah Galton to race away and cross it into the penalty area where Lucia Garcia is on hand to head past Hannah Hampton and into the net. Earps goes mental, screaming her delight at us sitting near the corner flag – what a start for the underdogs! Despite the early blow, Chelsea gather themselves rather quickly and start to dictate the game, almost immediately after the restart. Moving the ball quickly, they shift it wide right towards Johanna Kaneryd – she cuts inside and shoots straight at Earps who does well to hold onto the ball. Just as it seems the away side is warming up – and their expectant supporters are banging drums and chanting – before long, the other three sides of the ground erupt once again.
There doesn’t seem to be much on as Ella Toone is shepherded out towards the left touchline – she’s barely retaining control of the ball. However, she does gain control and manages to turn away from her marker, crossing the ball with her other foot into the penalty area where Rachel Williams is rushing into this time, planting an emphatic header past Hampton for 2-nil! Against the run-of-play, but who cares? United have doubled their lead against the favourites after barely a quarter of the game has gone. I’ve no idea about Marc Skinner’s usual management style or tactics (it’s been hard to judge in the games I’ve seen so far, considering they’ve played teams they’ve been expected to beat) – although I wouldn’t be surprised if he told his side to try and hit a weakened Chelsea early on, I doubt even he would have dreamed of the start they’ve made here!
Chelsea, again, respond well – dominating the ball and patiently searching for gaps in the United defence. Aside from the early save, Earps has largely been untroubled – her defence has made several last-ditch challenges to prevent any meaningful attempt at her goal. Their commitment to sitting back to defend is appreciated by those around me, typified by an incident near me, as they roar a crunching tackle put in by Galton. No doubt due to the occasion, the United support have been very animated throughout the first half – standing in anticipation every time they play it forward. Fortunately for me, I’m of above-average height, so I can stay seated and still look over the heads of the majority of women in the crowd who stand up. After Chelsea finally do breech their side’s defence, only to see an effort deflected wide, the United supporters take the opportunity to remind the away contingent of the score and that they ‘aren’t singing anymore’. They spoke too soon.
As the half draws to a close, Chelsea create several more chances – the pick of them being a cross that was headed just over the bar, while another header was pushed wide by Earps. With just a minute of added time to go, the Blues finally make their pressure tell – and who else bags their goal, but Lauren James. Some good combination play between Niamh Charles and Erin Cuthbert sees the former run down the left side of the penalty area, get to the byline and pull the ball back to the penalty spot where James is on hand to sidefoot in. Chelsea are back in it – and there’s even time for a spot of wrestling between James and her England teammate, Hayley Turner on the goal line as the defender picked up the ball to prevent James from retrieving it – both get booked for their efforts. Naturally, James was booed when her name was announced as the scorer! It’s two-one at half-time and I must say it’s gone by in a blur – by some distance the most entertaining half of football I’ve seen in this FA Cup run. Not just in terms of the quality of the play, but everything surrounding it – the atmosphere, the commitment both teams are showing – United desperately defending, Chelsea desperately attacking, and yes, the pantomime fun between Manchester United and Lauren James too!
It’s been a great first half for United, obviously, but with their season (and his job, potentially) riding on whatever happens in the second forty-five minutes, I’d imagine Skinner needs to deliver one of his better team talks here to preserve his side’s lead. That late goal will only work to embolden Chelsea – they’ve dominated all but the first five minutes of the game, with their better chances coming within the last ten minutes, their momentum building. It’s one of football’s most well-worn cliches but it’s clear here at 2-0 was a dangerous lead – especially when you’re up against the attacking quality of Chelsea! If they went in two goals behind at half-time, it would have seen heads lowered and fingers pointed. As it is, the goal just before the break will see determination broadcast on faces and fists being pumped. On the opposite side, the United players may be worried that their hard-fought lead will be overturned quickly, adding a sense of trepidation to the dressing room atmosphere. And this is where the coaches earn their money – can Skinner inspire his side to stand strong? Can Hayes inspire her side to overrun their opponents? Can the lady at the back of the long toilet queue I just passed get to do her business in time and return to her seat for the start of the second half? It’s all to play for!
As expected, Chelsea do come out hard – conducting several raids on the United backline in the opening couple of minutes, with more blocks and last-ditch tackles preventing certain goals. Clearly, both managers have communicated their messages well. Chelsea’s best chance during all this was a headed cross that Earps had to stretch to save – I have a feeling that’s not the last time she’s going to be doing that! The key component for the away side in their attacking endeavours has been centre-forward Mayha Ramirez, who has been a handful for the home defence. Playing as a centre-forward, she’s physically much bigger than any of the United players (she’s 5ft 10, apparently), so everything is going through her, as she holds up the ball, looking to bring teammates into play. I’ve very rarely seen this amount of physicality in women’s football – these types of players are ten-a-penny in the men’s game, especially in the lower leagues – so it’s interesting to watch here.
The Blues continue to hammer at the door, with Earps making two saves in quick succession – the first being straight at her, while the other was straight out of the top drawer. Chelsea swing a cross into the penalty area, Lauren James (it had to be her!) jumps, heads towards goal and the ball looks every inch in – until Earps dives across to claw it away. What was great about this moment is that both players seemed to hang in the air for ages – James did well to get the header on target, while Earps had to adjust quickly just to be able to dive the right way; two great examples of what women’s football has to offer right there. The United support don’t waste the opportunity to let James know their delight. This drama could run and run!
Now I’m not saying Mary Earps likes to shithouse her way through games but midway through the half, she goes down with a knock (apparently); the break in play allowing her manager to regroup his players and make a change. He addresses the constant Chelsea onslaught by replacing Toone with Hayley Ladd – an attacking midfielder replaced by a more defensive one. Designed to help United retain the ball, it helps to a degree as their opponents are forced to play the ball out wide more, instead of going through the middle and Ramirez. Both sides start to make more changes as the game slides towards its final quarter – including appearances for England stalwarts Nikita Parris for United and Fran Kirby for Chelsea. Naturally, the flow of the game is interrupted which everyone in red no doubt appreciated. Mary Earps also helps in her own way – collecting a ball that went out on one side of her goal before walking behind the net with it to place on the other side. She receives a yellow card for her trouble.
United have a rare foray into the Chelsea penalty area but they can’t quite get a shot off – the ball breaks to near halfway where James picks it up. She turns but Ladd is there to put in the type of crunching challenge that I suspect she was put on the pitch for. Naturally, this moment produces many cheers on three sides of the stadium, with a supporter behind me bellowing ‘Take Lauren James off the pitch’, in another incident of polite barracking. With gaps appearing in an increasingly-desperate Chelsea team, players such as Parris and Melvine Malard (who was also subbed on earlier), are using their pace to run the ball away from Chelsea.
And United will be glad of such assets too, as eight minutes are added on at the end of the match – can their nerves hold? Funnily enough, they really should have sealed the game early on in that added time – Parris finds herself in heaps of space on the right; she bears down on goal and I don’t know if she got caught in two minds of whether to shoot or cross, but she hit the ball across goal and an onrushing Malard can’t quite reach it – Hampton getting a hand to it to deflect it away. Parris really should have just smashed it at goal instead. A deathly silence then hangs over the stadium when Ramirez lays off the ball to Aggie Beaver-Jones on the left of the penalty area – she takes a touch before firing into the side netting.
The theatre is amping up as the match reaches its conclusion – the United supporters going through a range of emotions; first, excitement and disappointment as Malard tries a speculative effort from long distance that goes a couple of yards wide and then dread, as Chelsea quickly get on with play and create a chance that’s blocked out for a corner. All the players – including the Chelsea goalie – are piled into the area as the corner-taker swings the ball in, everyone in the crowd holds their collective breath…
But they did it, they held on! United are in their second consecutive Women’s FA Cup final and the supporters jump up and down as the final whistle sounds, scarves and signs all being waved in jubilation (and possibly to rile up Lauren James, I don’t know). There’s an ironic twist to this win because not only have United beaten the side who beat them in last year’s final, this victory represents their first-ever win against Chelsea in any competition – so all things considered, this is probably the first genuine ‘upset’ I’ve seen during this run! Not many teams, bar Man City and Arsenal, have come close to competing with Chelsea in the last decade, so this result could well be a milestone in the women’s game in England.
So, there we have it. After following several teams throughout this competition, it’s Manchester United who are in the final. Just like me, they’ll be travelling from the ‘other’ Wembley here in Leigh to Wembley itself – from Wemberleigh to Wembley!
Manchester
United 2
(Garcia, 1. Williams, 23)
Chelsea 1
(James, 45)
Attendance: 6,876
Next round: Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur
