2021–22 FA Women's League Cup

The 2021–22 FA Women's League Cup was the eleventh edition of the FA Women's Super League and FA Women's Championship's league cup competition. It was sponsored by Continental AG, who sponsored the competition since its creation, and was officially known as the FA Women's Continental League Cup for sponsorship reasons. All 24 teams from the FA WSL and Championship contested the competition. Chelsea were the defending champions. They lost in the final against Manchester City 3–1, who won their fourth title.[1]

2021–22 FA Women's League Cup
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Dates13 October 2021 –
6 March 2022
Teams24
Defending championsChelsea
Final positions
ChampionsManchester City (4th title)
Runner-upChelsea
Tournament statistics
Matches played45
Goals scored139 (3.09 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Angela Addison
Pernille Harder
Lauren Hemp
Khadija Shaw
Caroline Weir
(4 each)

Format changes

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The competition featured a group stage split regionally. However, the number of groups was reduced from six to five: two in the North and three in the South. In a change from previous years, teams competing in the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage were exempt from the League Cup group stage, earning a provisional bye to the quarter-finals. As a result, the initial group stage draw featured 22 of the 24 teams: one Northern group had five teams drawn into it with the remaining Northern group and all three Southern groups initially featuring four teams each. The three teams excluded from the draw were Chelsea, who automatically entered the Champions League group stage and therefore joined the League Cup at the quarter-final stage, and Manchester City and Arsenal who went through the Champions League qualifying rounds. Should either team be eliminated during qualification, they would enter the League Cup group stage and be drawn into an existing group of four in their geographical region.[2][3]

The first place team in each of the five groups qualified for the quarter-finals, and were joined by the two UEFA Women's Champions League teams, Chelsea and Arsenal. Because Manchester City entered the group stage of the League Cup following their elimination from the second qualifying round of the Champions League, the best-placed runner-up also progressed with the five group winners.[2]

Group stage

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Group A

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Pos Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Liverpool 4 1 2 1 0 3 2 +1 8 Advances to knock-out stage
2 Sunderland 4 1 2 0 1 3 9 −6 7 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 Blackburn Rovers 4 2 0 0 2 4 4 0 6
4 Sheffield United 4 1 0 2 1 3 3 0 5
5 Aston Villa 4 1 0 1 2 9 4 +5 4
Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
Liverpool1–1Aston Villa
  • Kiernan   66'
Report
Penalties
5–4
Attendance: 601[4]
Sheffield United1–1Sunderland
Report
Penalties
2–4

Blackburn Rovers1–2Sunderland
Report
Sir Tom Finney Stadium, Bamber Bridge
Attendance: 186[6]

Liverpool2–1Blackburn Rovers
Report
Attendance: 549[7]
Aston Villa1–2Sheffield United
Report
Attendance: 352[8]

Blackburn Rovers1–0Sheffield United
Report
Sir Tom Finney Stadium, Bamber Bridge
Attendance: 207[9]
Sunderland0–7Aston Villa
Report

Sunderland0–0Liverpool
Report
Penalties
4–2
Aston Villa0–1Blackburn Rovers
Report
Attendance: 323[12]

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Manchester City 4 3 0 0 1 14 3 +11 9 Advances to knock-out stage
2 Manchester United 4 2 1 1 0 8 5 +3 9 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 Everton 4 2 0 0 2 5 8 −3 6
4 Leicester City 4 1 1 0 2 5 11 −6 5
5 Durham 4 0 0 1 3 3 8 −5 1
Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
Manchester City5–1Everton
Report
Durham2–2Manchester United
report report
Penalties
3–5
Attendance: 1,468

Manchester City3–0Durham
Report

Durham1–2Leicester City
Report Report
Attendance: 402
Manchester United2–1Manchester City
Report

Manchester United2–2Leicester City
Report
Penalties
3–4
Everton1–0Durham
Report

Everton0–2Manchester United
Report
Leicester City0–5Manchester City
Report 1 Report 2

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Tottenham Hotspur 3 3 0 0 0 15 2 +13 9 Advances to knock-out stage
2 Charlton Athletic 3 2 0 0 1 8 2 +6 6 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 Coventry United 3 1 0 0 2 6 6 0 3
4 Watford 3 0 0 0 3 0 19 −19 0
Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
Tottenham Hotspur1–0Charlton Athletic
Report 1 Report 2
Attendance: 404 [20]
Coventry United3–0Watford
Report

Charlton Athletic3–1Coventry United
Report
The Oakwood, Crayford
Attendance: 116[22]
Watford0–11Tottenham Hotspur
Report
Gaywood Park, Kings Langley
Attendance: 230[23]

Watford0–5Charlton Athletic
Report
Gaywood Park, Kings Langley
Attendance: 92[24]
Coventry United2–3Tottenham Hotspur
Report

Group D

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Pos Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Bristol City 3 2 1 0 0 4 1 +3 8 Advances to knock-out stage
2 Reading 3 1 0 1 1 4 3 +1 4 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 Crystal Palace 3 0 1 1 1 2 4 −2 3
4 Lewes 3 0 1 1 1 3 5 −2 3
Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
Lewes1–1Crystal Palace
Report
Penalties
3–4
Attendance: 228[26]
Reading0–1Bristol City
Report

Bristol City3–1Lewes
Report
Robins High Performance Centre, Failand
Attendance: 313[28]
Crystal Palace1–3Reading
Report

Lewes1–1Reading
Report
Penalties
6–5
Attendance: 412[29]
Crystal Palace0–0Bristol City
Report
Penalties
4–5
Attendance: 70[30]

Group E

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Pos Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 West Ham United 3 3 0 0 0 8 0 +8 9 Advances to knock-out stage
2 London City Lionesses 3 1 1 0 1 3 3 0 5 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 Brighton & Hove Albion 3 1 0 0 2 1 4 −3 3
4 Birmingham City 3 0 0 1 2 2 7 −5 1
Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
London City Lionesses0–1West Ham United
Report
Attendance: 189[31]
Birmingham City0–1Brighton & Hove Albion
Report
Attendance: 304[32]

Brighton & Hove Albion0–1London City Lionesses
Report
Birmingham City0–4West Ham United
Report
Attendance: 181[34]

London City Lionesses2–2Birmingham City
Report
Penalties
5–4
Attendance: 78[35]
West Ham United3–0Brighton & Hove Albion
Report
Attendance: 475[36]

Ranking of second-placed teams

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Due to Manchester City's failure to progress from Champions League qualifying, they entered the League Cup group stage. With only two teams now receiving byes to the League Cup quarter-finals, the best-placed runner-up will also progress with the five group winners to make up the final eight. With the three Southern groups containing one fewer team than the two Northern groups, the ranking to determine which second-placed team progresses is calculated on a points-per-game basis.

Pos Grp Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 B Manchester United 4 2 1 1 0 8 5 +3 9 2.25 Advances to knock-out stage
2 C Charlton Athletic 3 2 0 0 1 8 2 +6 6 2.00
3 A Sunderland 4 1 2 0 1 3 9 −6 7 1.75
4 E London City Lionesses 3 1 1 0 1 3 3 0 5 1.67
5 D Reading 3 1 0 1 1 4 3 +1 4 1.33
Source: thefa.com

Knock-out stage

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Quarter-finals

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Chelsea entered the League Cup at the quarter-final stage having been exempt from the League Cup group stage due to their automatic participation in the Champions League group stage. Arsenal also entered at this stage having progressed from the Champions League qualifying rounds.[2] The ties took place on 19 January 2022.

West Ham United2–4Chelsea
Report
Attendance: 615
Referee: Paul Howard

Tottenham Hotspur1–0Liverpool
R. Williams   71' Report 1 Report 2
Attendance: 378[37]
Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis

Manchester City3–1Bristol City
Report 1 Report 2 Greenwood   16' (o.g.)
Attendance: 574[38]
Referee: Simon Mather

Arsenal0–1Manchester United
Report Russo   85'
Attendance: 825
Referee: Tom Reeves

Semi-finals

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The semi-finals took place between 2-3 February 2022.

Chelsea3–1Manchester United
Report
Attendance: 1,548
Referee: Paul Howard

Manchester City3–0Tottenham Hotspur
Report
Attendance: 1,410
Referee: Simon Mather

Final

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On 20 December 2021, it was announced the 2022 FA Women's League Cup Final would be held at Plough Lane, the home of AFC Wimbledon, for the first time. The final was scheduled to take place on 5 March 2022.[39]

Manchester City3–1Chelsea
Report
Attendance: 8,004
Referee: Lisa Benn

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Chelsea 1–3 Manchester City: Second-half comeback seals League Cup final victory". BBC Sport. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Conti Cup format explained". womenscompetitions.thefa.com.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Women's League Cup draw on talkSPORT". TalkSPORT. 27 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Liverpool 1-1 (5-4)g.p. Aston Villa :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  5. ^ "Sheffield United 1-1 (2-4)g.p. Sunderland :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  6. ^ "Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Sunderland :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  7. ^ "Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn Rovers :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  8. ^ "Aston Villa 1-2 Sheffield United :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  9. ^ "Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Sheffield United :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  10. ^ "Sunderland 0-7 Aston Villa :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  11. ^ "Sunderland 0-0 (4-2)g.p. Liverpool :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  12. ^ "Aston Villa 0-1 Blackburn Rovers :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  13. ^ "Manchester City 5-1 Everton :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  14. ^ "Manchester City 3-0 Durham Women :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  15. ^ "Man Utd Women's biggest attendances". September 24, 2022.
  16. ^ "Manchester United Women v Everton Women match programme, WSL, Old Trafford, 27.03.22 by Manchester United Football Club - Issuu". issuu.com.
  17. ^ "Everton 1-0 Durham Women :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  18. ^ "Everton 0-2 Manchester United :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  19. ^ "Man City progress to cup quarters" – via www.bbc.com.
  20. ^ Admin, CAFC (October 14, 2021). "REPORT | Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Charlton (Continental Cup)".
  21. ^ "Coventry United 3-0 Watford :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  22. ^ "WOMEN'S REPORT | Charlton 3-1 Coventry United | Charlton Athletic Football Club". www.charltonafc.com.
  23. ^ "Women: Spurs Defeat Golden Girls In Continental Tyres League Cup". Watford FC.
  24. ^ "Watford 0-5 Charlton Athletic :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  25. ^ "Coventry United 2-3 Tottenham :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  26. ^ "Lewes 1-1 (3-4)g.p. Crystal Palace :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  27. ^ "Reading 0-1 Bristol City :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  28. ^ "2021/22 - FA Championship". Bristol City.
  29. ^ "Lewes 1-1 Reading :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  30. ^ "Crystal Palace 0-0 Bristol City :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  31. ^ "London City Lionesses 0-1 West Ham :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  32. ^ "Match details | Lineups". Birmingham City Football Club.
  33. ^ "Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 London City Lionesses :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  34. ^ "Match details | Lineups". Birmingham City Football Club.
  35. ^ "Match details | Lineups". Birmingham City Football Club.
  36. ^ "West Ham 3-0 Brighton & Hove Albion :: FA Womens Super League Cup 2021/22 :: Match Events :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com.
  37. ^ "Williams winner sends Spurs through" – via www.bbc.com.
  38. ^ "Shaw double sends Man City into semis" – via www.bbc.com.
  39. ^ "Save the date! Prestigious final at our stadium". AFC Wimbledon.
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