Manchester United beat Arsenal, Chelsea reach seventh straight League Cup final with win over Manchester City: 'It never gets boring'

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Holders Chelsea will play Manchester United in the League Cup final in March. The WSL champions beat Manchester City 1-0 in their semi-final, while United won by the same scoreline at Arsenal to reach their first-ever final in the competition. Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor spoke about the magnitude of her side's achievement in her post-match interview.

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Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor said the feeling of reaching the League Cup final "never gets boring" after her side edged past Manchester City on Wednesday night.

A 1-0 win over their Women's Super League title rivals meant Chelsea advanced to their seventh successive final in the competition.

Wieke Kaptein's header minutes before half-time proved the difference on a night where City missed several chances, while Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved impressively from Vivianne Miedema and Yui Hasegawa to ensure the Blues remained on course for a fourth title.

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"It never gets boring and it's a really good habit [reaching finals]. I think I am really proud of my players to come here and keep clean sheets against this team with so much talent, it was a great performance," Bompastor said.

"In some part of the game we got a bit lucky, but to be able to win 1-0 and qualify for the final, it was a great performance.

"We were a bit lucky, we conceded two posts, in some games it goes that way and it's a good thing for us tonight. Most of the game we were strong defensively, we showed resilience as a team. I'm really pleased because probably a lot of people were expecting a different result because of the form City were in.

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"The most difficult thing is to keep performing at the highest level and keep winning games. To be in another final is a new opportunity for us to grab a title. People don't realise how much it takes from the players.

"Chelsea has been doing this for years, but I'm happy because I'm the new manager and they keep doing that. People need to understand it takes a lot, the players are working really hard. It's a mentality to be able to achieve that."

Man Utd beat Arsenal to reach first final

Manchester United got the better of Arsenal in north London to make their first ever League Cup final.

Elisabeth Terland's goal on the stroke of half-time was enough for the visitors, who were helped by the sending off of Olivia Smith just after the hour mark.

While Arsenal had the lion's share of possession and plenty of shots, there were few gilt-edged chances. And it was a mistake from the hosts that proved decisive, with Anneke Borbe seeing a wayward pass intercepted by United's Ellen Wangerheim, who found Terland for an easy finish.

Arsenal toiled in search of an equaliser, but they could not find a way through, and the Gunners - seven time winners of the League Cup - have now gone two seasons without reaching the final.

Asked about playing Chelsea in the final, United captain Maya Le Tissier said: "It will be cool. Obviously, we've not made the final before. It's another opportunity to win something and that's what we want to do. We want to be challenging in every cup we're in.

"It's a massive team effort from players and staff to get ready for the next game but we've done it many a time this season so we're ready for that."

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