Chelsea secured their place in the League Cup final for the sixth consecutive season with a commanding 2-0 victory over West Ham at Kingsmeadow. First-half goals from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Sjoeke Nüsken ensured progression to the final, where they will face either Arsenal or Manchester City.
The home side, leading the Women’s Super League, dominated possession and never looked troubled. Despite several changes to the starting lineup from the previous weekend’s narrow 1-0 league win over Aston Villa, the quality of the squad ensured there was no drop in performance. Among the notable inclusions was Keira Walsh, who made her first start since joining the club. Her presence in midfield was praised for adding composure and control to the team.
The breakthrough came in the 20th minute when a clearance fell kindly for Rytting Kaneryd, who struck a clean shot past the West Ham goalkeeper, Kinga Szemik, at the near post. Chelsea doubled their lead just nine minutes later after Nüsken and Guro Reiten pressed Eva Nyström into losing possession. Nüsken showed composure to round the goalkeeper and roll the ball into the net, putting the hosts firmly in control.
Chelsea’s dominance was evident throughout the match, limiting West Ham’s attacking threat. The visitors, who had struggled in previous meetings against Chelsea, found it difficult to break through the defensive setup. Their first shot on target did not arrive until the 78th minute, when Kirsty Smith’s effort from a tight angle was comfortably dealt with by Hannah Hampton.
There were promising signs for Chelsea beyond the result. The squad’s strength in depth was on display, with summer signing Naomi Girma watching from the stands as she prepares to make her debut. The USA international defender arrived for a world-record fee of £890,000 but is still in preseason mode following the US off-season. Meanwhile, rested senior players, including Lucy Bronze and Zecira Musovic—who recently announced her pregnancy—were also in attendance.
As the game progressed, Chelsea introduced fresh attacking threats, with Aggie Beever-Jones and Lauren James coming on in the second half to apply further pressure. Despite their efforts, West Ham’s defense held firm after the break, preventing any further damage. For the visitors, containing Chelsea to a scoreless second half offered a minor consolation, even though their hopes of reaching the final were extinguished early in the match.
Following the win, the Chelsea manager reflected positively on the performance, noting the team’s control and execution in the first half. She acknowledged the importance of squad depth and was particularly pleased with Walsh’s impact in midfield. The composure and balance she brought to the game further solidified Chelsea’s control.
On the opposite side, West Ham’s manager, Rehanne Skinner, expressed disappointment at the manner of the goals conceded but praised her team’s efforts. She highlighted the importance of taking lessons from the defeat as they shift focus back to league competition.
Chelsea now awaits the outcome of Thursday’s semi-final between Arsenal and Manchester City to determine their opponent for the final on March 15 at Pride Park. With a chance to secure their first League Cup title since 2021, the team will be eager to end their recent streak of final defeats and add another piece of silverware to their collection.
