City's League Cup successes | OneFootball

Gareth Taylor’s side travel to the Midlands as they face Chelsea at Pride Park in the Subway Women’s League Cup. As the second most successful side in the competition we aim to add a fifth league cup to our collection.

Following a dramatic 95th minute winner in the semi-final against Arsenal, we are now one step away from our first piece of silverware of the 24/25 season.

In three of the four previous league cup finals we have faced similar challenges to the journey to Derbyshire this season. Having fought hard in what was a lively semi-final at Meadow Park and battling for a 2-1 win against Manchester United in the quarter-finals, the Blues have proved they thrive when the odds are stacked against them.

From theatrical second-half comebacks to penalty shoot-out triumphs, we look back at our previous League Cup final victories.

2014

City concluded their debut Women’s Super League campaign in style with a 1-0 victory over Arsenal at Wycombe’s Adams Park. Earning their first piece of silverware as a professional side.

It looked like the contest would be forced to extra time before Izzy Christiansen’s close-range header was enough to get the better of the Gunners.

Arsenal went close through Rachel Yankey and Danielle Carter, but they were unable to find the City net.

City went into the game as the underdog with Arsenal the clear favourites to come away with the trophy. The Citizens had suffered a difficult start to their maiden season and this finale ensured it was a memorable one.

2016

Both sides forced the game into extra-time with neither breaking the deadlock after an uneventful opening 90 minutes. But with a record attendance of 4124 it was all to play for at the Academy Stadium.

Birmingham City pushed the 15/16 WSL Champions and posed a physical challenge, but the Citizens survived the pressure.

As the clock ticked into extra-time, we needed inspiration and Lucy Bronze’s head found the breakthrough.

The game was pushed to the wire and Birmingham had the opportunity to force penalties in the last few seconds, but it proved to be Nick Cushing’s side’s day.

The England international’s header secured City a league and cup double in the same week and helped Birmingham City to a third defeat in six years in the final.

2019

Karen Bardsley was the hero at Bramall Lane, saving two spot-kicks, after a goalless 120 minutes. Janine Beckie stepped up to seal the winning strike, having earlier hit the crossbar twice in normal time, in yet another closely fought contest against the Gunners.

Bardsley’s heroic display clinched her a fifth trophy with City since her arrival in 2014.

2022

In front of a sell-out crowd at Plough Lane, Gareth Taylor’s side came from a goal down to earn our fourth accolade in the competition.

Despite City dominating, Sam Kerr gave Chelsea the lead at half-time against the run of play, but Caroline Weir hauled City level soon after the restart.

After failing to beat Chelsea in ten games it looked like it would happen again.

Ellen White nudged us ahead with a close-range finish after Lauren Hemp forced a save from Ann-Katrin Berger just before the hour mark. The fightback was on.

City did not have to wait long for a third goal as Weir completed her brace with a meteoric volley blasting into the top corner of the Chelsea net.

The second-half comeback was complete as City claimed a convincing first win over Emma Hayes’ side in ten attempts enroute to our first silverware since November 2020.