Chelsea 2-3 (a.e.t.) Manchester City, Women’s FA Cup semi-final: Post-match reaction
Not going any further
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 10: Sonia Bompastor, Manager of Chelsea, encourages the team from the touch line during the Adobe Women's FA Cup Semi Final match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on May 10, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens - The FA/The FA via Getty Images) | The FA via Getty Images Having already clinched the Women’s Super League title and interrupted Chelsea Women’s six-fold-consecutive run of lifting that very trophy, Manchester City wanted to inflict more harm upon the only team that managed to beat them more than once this season. They were high in confidence as they did beat us to a pulp last time we met them.
This Chelsea is no longer the unstoppable (domestic) force of the previous season. It doesn’t mean cup competence has been lost from them. Lest we remember we were only a few baffling refereeing decisions away from beating Arsenal to a UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final spot.
Playing at home we didn’t dominate possession like we’re used to, but we did get the lion’s share of shots on goal. The first that went past Khiara Keating’s goal posts was wrongly called off for a line crossing that didn’t happen before Ellie Carpenter’s assist to Sam Kerr. They couldn’t pull the same trick on Erin Cuthbert’s shot to open the scoring for us.
Our opener did open City’s eyes a bit and they got a bit more aggressive with their advances. Despite all our faults throughout the season we managed to get some good answers in kind although we were at times frustratingly bad with our decision-making as entered the opposition’s box. City needed to make up for the deficit with goals in the second half and they went for it right away.