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Sunday, March 1, 2026

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Chelsea find a way through

Chelsea 2 Manchester United 1

Chelsea moved into the quarter finals of the Adobe Women's FA Cup with an extra time goal sealing a 2-1 home win over Manchester United after a very well contested rehearsal for the Subway League Cup final in three weeks time.

This Fifth Round tie was also a repeat of last year's final, where the Blues also prevailed, but the margins were very small as United played a full part in a Cup thriller.

 

Chelsea were denied in the first half chiefly by the fine work of Phallon Tullis-Joyce in the opposing goal. Three times the USA international showed her speed of reaction and agility to turn away close range strikes after the hosts had broken clear, sending players through on goal. Arguably, the pick of the three was the stretch made to deflect Lauren James' powerful low strike wide of the far post on 41 minutes.

 

At the other end, Jess Park fired wide when well placed and there was enough threat from the United attack, especially Melvine Malard on the left, to keep the Chelsea defence on their toes but the first half ended goalless.

 

Park showed her real quality with a stunning 25-yard strike past Hannah Hampton on 64 minutes but the ball flew to safety off the far post. There was no such drama in Chelsea's opener as Ellie Carpenter crossed for fellow Aussie Sam Kerr to poke a deflected effort beyond Tullis-Joyce on 78 minutes.

 

Home delight was soon extinguished though as Simi Awujo scrambled in a loose ball after Chelsea could not clear a free kick on 81 minutes and the match was destined for extra time.

 

The outcome was ultimately settled by another set piece on 99 minutes and it bore some resemblance to the United leveller, albeit from a corner this time. Tullis-Joyce kept out an initial shot with another fine save but fellow international Naomi Girma netted the loose ball - her first ever goal for the Blues.

 

United gave it their all and laid siege to the Chelsea goal in a thrilling last ten minutes but, despite confident penalty claims at one point and lots of half sights of goal, Chelsea held on for a hard earned victory and a place in the last eight.

Chelsea: Hannah Hampton, Veerle Buurman, Naomi Girma, Lucy Bronze, Ellie Carpenter, Sjoeke Nusken, Keira Walsh, Erin Cuthbert, Alyssa Thompson, Lauren James, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd. Subs: Sandy Baltimore, Sam Kerr, Kadeisha Buchanan, Wieke Kaptein, Guro Reiten, Aggie Beever-Jones, Livia Peng, Lexi Potter, Chloe Sarwie.

Manchester United: Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Dominique Janssen, Millie Turner, Maya Le Tissier, Hanna Lundkvist, Hinata Miyazawa, Julia Zigiotit Olme, Melvine Malard, Lisa Naalsund, Jess Park, Ellen Wangerheim. Subs: Simi Awujo, Elisabeth Terland, Gabrielle George, Lea Schuller, Layla Drury, Jessica Anderson, Safia Middleton-Patel, Kayla Rendell.