Chelsea are through to a third successive Continental League Cup final after a 3-1 semi-final victory over Manchester United.
The Blues, who won the competition against Arsenal in 2020 and Bristol City in 2021, have the chance to make it three in a row in next month’s final at AFC Wimbledon’s Plough Lane.
United went into off the back of seven straight wins and clean sheets in all competitions while Chelsea were unbeaten in four and had Sam Kerr back on the bench after her return from the Asia Cup.
In the end, the Blues’ firepower proved too much and United sorely missed the creativity of Ella Toone, who was serving a suspension after picking up two yellow cards earlier in the competition.
Both teams struggled in the early stages. United had the first real chance when Vilde Boe Risa’s cross picked out Martha Thomas, but the striker’s header was easily caught by Chelsea goalkeeper Zecira Musovic. Pernille Harder then fired over from inside the box at the other end.
But the game came to life mid-way through the first half with four goals in 13 minutes, three of which were scored by the home side.
Chelsea took the lead through Harder when the striker latched onto Guro Reiten’s through ball before selling Aoife Mannion a dummy and rounding goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley to finish into an empty net.
Jessie Fleming then put the Blues 2-0 ahead shortly after. Reiten’s shot at the back-post was blocked by Ona Batlle but the rebound fell to Fleming, whose header bounced into the ground and over Baggaley.
But United halved the deficit less than a minute later when Risa latched on to a Groenen back-heel before curling a finish into the bottom right corner.
At that point it was game-on but Jess Carter, who ran all the way from the half-way line to meet Reiten’s cross and finish past Baggaley.
Chelsea could have had a penalty shortly after the hour mark when Harder went to ground under a challenge from Maria Thorisdottir but referee Paul Howard showed no interest in pointing to the spot.
Kerr, who was brought on for the final 20 minutes, should have put the game to bed when she was picked out by Harder in the box, but the striker could not apply the finish
Any hopes of a United comeback were dashed when Baggaley was sent off after clattering into Kerr just outside the box.
The goalkeeper was caught in no man’s land as she hesitated over whether to come for Harder’s ball over the top.
Kerr got there first and Baggaley could only send the forward tumbling to the ground, leaving referee Howard no choice but to produce a red card.
Lauren James came off the bench in the final five minutes and almost grabbed a goal against her former side but her shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Batlle.
Both teams have huge league games coming up with United travelling to Arsenal on Saturday before Chelsea host Manchester City on Sunday.
United then play City and Chelsea host Arsenal the weekend after.
But it will be Emma Hayes’ side who have an extra spring in their step ahead of a congested month of fixtures.