2022–23 FA Women's League Cup

The 2022–23 FA Women's League Cup was the twelfth edition of the Women's Super League and Women's Championship's league cup competition. It was sponsored by Continental AG, who have sponsored the competition since its creation in 2011, and was officially known as the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup[1] for sponsorship reasons. All 24 teams from the WSL and Championship contested the competition. Manchester City were the defending champions.[2]

2022–23 FA Women's League Cup
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Dates1 October 2022 – 5 March 2023
Teams24
Defending championsManchester City
Final positions
ChampionsArsenal (6th title)
Runner-upChelsea
Tournament statistics
Matches played44
Goals scored137 (3.11 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Sam Kerr (6 goals)

Format

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The competition kept the same format as the previous season, starting with a group stage split regionally. Teams competing in the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage are exempt from the League Cup group stage, earning a provisional bye to the quarter-finals. As a result, the initial group stage draw made on 9 August 2022 featured 21 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 will take part in 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.[3] Manchester City were eliminated from the Champions League in the first qualifying round and were therefore placed in Group B as the only Northern group with four teams.

The first place team in each of the five groups will qualify for the knock-out stage. Because Manchester City failed to progress from Champions League qualifying, one best-placed runner-up will also progress to make up eight teams in the quarter-finals.

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 Aston Villa 4 2 1 1 0 5 3 +2 9 Advanced to knock-out stage
2 Manchester United 4 2 0 2 0 11 5 +6 8 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 Durham 4 1 2 0 1 6 6 0 7
4 Everton 4 1 1 0 2 6 6 0 5
5 Sheffield United 4 0 0 1 3 4 12 −8 1
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
Aston Villa1–1Manchester United
  • Daly   72'
Report
Penalties
4–3
Attendance: 2,109[4]
Referee: Melissa Burgin[5]
Durham3–3Sheffield United
Report
Penalties
5–3
Attendance: 324[6]
Referee: Matthew Corlett[7]

Everton1–1Aston Villa
Report
Penalties
4–2
Attendance: 1,202[8]
Referee: Thomas Kirk[9]
Durham2–2Manchester United
Report
Penalties
3–1
Attendance: 1,695[10]
Referee: Thomas Parsons[11]

Sheffield United0–3Everton
Report
Aston Villa1–0Durham
Report
Attendance: 526
Referee: Leigh Doughty

Manchester United4–2Everton
Report
Attendance: 1,519[12]
Referee: Simon Kirk
Sheffield United1–2Aston Villa
Report
Attendance: 104[13]
Referee: Andrew Kitchen[14]

Everton0–1Durham
Report
Manchester United4–0Sheffield United
Report

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Manchester City 4 4 0 0 0 12 0 +12 12 Advanced to knock-out stage
2 Liverpool 4 3 0 0 1 6 2 +4 9 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 Leicester City 4 2 0 0 2 8 5 +3 6
4 Sunderland 3 0 0 0 3 0 9 −9 0
5 Blackburn Rovers 3 0 0 0 3 0 10 −10 0
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
Sunderland0–1Liverpool
Report
Attendance: 590[16]
Referee: Phoebe Cross[17]
Blackburn Rovers0–3Leicester City
Report
Sir Tom Finney Stadium, Bamber Bridge
Attendance: 247[18]
Referee: Melissa Cairns[19]

Leicester City0–4Liverpool
Report
Attendance: 354[20]
Referee: Tom Nield[21]
Manchester City6–0Blackburn Rovers
Report
Attendance: 1,419[22]
Referee: Melissa Burgin[23]

Manchester City3–0Sunderland
Report
Attendance: 1,672
Referee: Stacey Fullicks
Liverpool1–0Blackburn Rovers
Report
Attendance: 969
Referee: Melissa Burgin

Liverpool0–2Manchester City
Report
Attendance: 965[24]
Referee: Martin Woods[25]
Sunderland0–5Leicester City
Report

Blackburn RoversCancelledSunderland
Sir Tom Finney Stadium, Bamber Bridge

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 West Ham United 3 1 1 1 0 4 2 +2 6 Advanced to knock-out stage
2 Brighton & Hove Albion 3 1 1 0 1 4 4 0 5 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 London City Lionesses 3 1 0 1 1 5 5 0 4
4 Birmingham City 3 1 0 0 2 4 6 −2 3
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
Birmingham City3–2Brighton & Hove Albion
Report
Attendance: 461[31]
Referee: Ritchie Watkins
London City Lionesses2–2West Ham United
Report
Penalties
9–10
Attendance: 410[32]
Referee: Kirsty Dowle

London City Lionesses1–2Brighton & Hove Albion
Report
Attendance: 268
Referee: Kirsty Dowle
West Ham United2–0Birmingham City
Report
Attendance: 585[33]
Referee: Emily Heaslip

Birmingham City1–2London City Lionesses
Report
Attendance: 481[34]
Referee: Jeda Wardle
Brighton & Hove Albion0–0West Ham United
Report
Penalties
3–0
Attendance: 1,005
Referee: Kirsty Dowle

Group D

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Pos Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Bristol City 3 2 0 0 1 6 2 +4 6 Advanced to knock-out stage
2 Lewes 3 2 0 0 1 6 2 +4 6 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 Charlton Athletic 3 2 0 0 1 4 3 +1 6
4 Crystal Palace 3 0 0 0 3 1 10 −9 0
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
Lewes2–0Charlton Athletic
Report
Attendance: 403
Referee: C. Small
Bristol City4–0Crystal Palace
Report
Robins High Performance Centre, Failand
Attendance: 423[36]

Crystal Palace1–4Lewes
Report
Attendance: 296
Referee: Aimee Keir
Charlton Athletic2–1Bristol City
Report
The Oakwood, Bexley
Attendance: 296[37]
Referee: Nicoleta Bria

Charlton Athletic2–0Crystal Palace
Report
The Oakwood, Bexley
Attendance: 302[39]
Lewes0–1Bristol City
Report

Group E

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Pos Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Tottenham Hotspur 3 3 0 0 0 8 2 +6 9 Advanced to knock-out stage
2 Reading 3 2 0 0 1 8 2 +6 6 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 Coventry United 3 1 0 0 2 3 9 −6 3
4 Southampton 3 0 0 0 3 0 6 −6 0
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
Reading1–2Tottenham Hotspur
Report
Attendance: 2,200
Referee: Amy Fearn
Coventry United2–0Southampton
Dudley-Jones   50'
Wiseman   55'
Report

Southampton0–3Reading
Report
Attendance: 4,258
Referee: Louise Saunders
Tottenham Hotspur5–1Coventry United
Report
  • Orthodoxou   90+1'
Attendance: 566
Referee: Josh Smith

Coventry United0–4Reading
Report
Attendance: 192
Referee: Phoebe Cross
Southampton0–1Tottenham Hotspur
Report
Attendance: 2,725
Referee: Stacey Fullicks

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 receiving byes to the League Cup quarter-finals, the best-placed runner-up team progressed 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 progressed was calculated on a points-per-game basis.

Pos Grp Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 B Liverpool 4 3 0 0 1 6 2 +4 9 2.25 Advanced to knock-out stage
2 A Manchester United 4 2 0 2 0 11 5 +6 8 2.00
3 E Reading 3 2 0 0 1 8 2 +6 6 2.00
4 C Brighton & Hove Albion 3 2 0 0 1 6 2 +4 6 2.00
5 D Lewes 3 2 0 0 1 6 2 +4 6 2.00
Source: [citation needed]

Knock-out stage

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Quarter-finals

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Chelsea and Arsenal entered the League Cup at the quarter-final stage, having been exempt from the group stage due to their participation in the Champions League group stage.

Bristol City0–6Manchester City
Report
Attendance: 2,647
Referee: Thomas Kirk

Liverpool0–1West Ham United
Report
Attendance: 510
Referee: Martin Woods

Tottenham Hotspur1–3Chelsea
Report
Attendance: 657 [42]
Referee: Sunny Sukhvir Gill

Arsenal3–0Aston Villa
Report
Attendance: 2,959
Referee: Carl Brook

Semi-finals

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Arsenal1–0 (a.e.t.)Manchester City
Report
Attendance: 1,795
Referee: Abigail Byrne

West Ham United0–7Chelsea
Report
Attendance: 1,092
Referee: Louise Saunders

Final

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On 5 December 2022, it was announced that the 2023 FA Women's League Cup Final would be held at Selhurst Park, the home of Crystal Palace, for the first time. The final took place on 5 March 2023.[43]

Chelsea1–3Arsenal
Report
Attendance: 19,010
Referee: Kirsty Dowle

Top goalscorers

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Rank[44] Player Club Goals
1   Sam Kerr Chelsea 6
2   Mary Fowler Manchester City 4
  Hayley Raso Manchester City
4   Natasha Dowie Reading 3
  Abi Harrison Bristol City
  Sarah Ewens London City Lionesses
  Julie Blakstad Manchester City
  Vilde Bøe Risa Manchester United
  Dagny Brynjarsdóttir West Ham United
10 16 players 2

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Sunderland vs Leicester City was postponed due to a frozen pitch on 8 December 2022.[26]
  2. ^ Leicester City v Manchester City was postponed due to a frozen pitch on 17 December 2022.[27]
  3. ^ Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland was postponed due to a frozen pitch on 15 December 2022.[29] The game was postponed for a second time on 18 January 2023, again for a frozen pitch.[30]
  4. ^ Brighton & Hove Albion v West Ham United was postponed due to a frozen pitch on 17 December 2022.[35]
  5. ^ Charlton Athletic v Crystal Palace was postponed due to a frozen pitch on 18 December 2022.[38]
  6. ^ Lewes v Bristol City was postponed due to a frozen pitch on 16 December 2022. The game had been switched to a Bristol City home match on 16 December after Lewes had deemed their pitch unplayable the previous day but reverted back to a Lewes home game once rescheduled.[40]

References

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  1. ^ The FA Official site
  2. ^ "Chelsea 1–3 Manchester City: Second-half comeback seals League Cup final victory". BBC Sport. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  3. ^ "2022–23 Conti Cup draw made". womenscompetitions.thefa.com. 9 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Villa beat Man Utd in Women's League Cup shootout". BBC Sport.
  5. ^ "Villa beat Man Utd in Women's League Cup shootout". BBC Sport.
  6. ^ "Durham Women v Sheffield United Women". BBC Sport.
  7. ^ "Durham Women v Sheffield United Women". BBC Sport.
  8. ^ "Everton Women v Aston Villa Women". BBC Sport.
  9. ^ "Everton Women v Aston Villa Women". BBC Sport.
  10. ^ "Championship side Durham twice fought back before beating Manchester United in a League Cup penalty shootout". BBC Sport.
  11. ^ "Championship side Durham twice fought back before beating Manchester United in a League Cup penalty shootout". BBC Sport.
  12. ^ "Manchester United Women v Everton Women". BBC Sport.
  13. ^ "Sheffield United Women v Aston Villa Women". BBC Sport.
  14. ^ "Sheffield United Women v Aston Villa Women". BBC Sport.
  15. ^ "Manchester United Women v Liverpool Women match programme, WSL, 15.01.23". Issuu.com.
  16. ^ "Sunderland Ladies v Liverpool Women". BBC Sport.
  17. ^ "Sunderland Ladies v Liverpool Women". BBC Sport.
  18. ^ "Blackburn Ladies v Leicester City Women". BBC Sport.
  19. ^ "Blackburn Ladies v Leicester City Women". BBC Sport.
  20. ^ "Leicester City Women v Liverpool Women". BBC Sport.
  21. ^ "Leicester City Women v Liverpool Women". BBC Sport.
  22. ^ "Manchester City Women v Blackburn Ladies". BBC Sport.
  23. ^ "Manchester City Women v Blackburn Ladies". BBC Sport.
  24. ^ "Liverpool Women v Manchester City Women". BBC Sport.
  25. ^ "Liverpool Women v Manchester City Women". BBC Sport.
  26. ^ "Postponed: SAFC Women vs Leicester City Women". SAFC. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  27. ^ "LCFC Women: Manchester City Fixture Postponed". Leicester City. 17 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  28. ^ "Leicester City Women vs Manchester City Women". BBC Sport.
  29. ^ "Postponed: Rovers Ladies vs Sunderland". Blackburn Rovers. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  30. ^ "Postponed: Rovers Ladies vs Sunderland". Blackburn Rovers FC.
  31. ^ "Match details". Birmingham City Football Club.
  32. ^ "London City Lionesses v West Ham United Women". BBC Sport.
  33. ^ "Match details". Birmingham City Football Club.
  34. ^ "Match details". Birmingham City Football Club.
  35. ^ "Women's Conti Cup fixture against Brighton postponed". www.whufc.com. 18 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  36. ^ "2022/23 - Barclays FAC". Bristol City.
  37. ^ "Charlton Athletic Women vs Bristol City Women". BBC Sport.
  38. ^ "Game off: Charlton Women v Crystal Palace". www.charltonafc.com. 18 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  39. ^ "REPORT CHARLTON 2 CRYSTAL PALACE 0". Charlton Athletic FC.
  40. ^ "Lewes fixture postponed". www.bcfc.co.uk. 18 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  41. ^ "Coventry United Women vs Southampton Women 2022-10-02". Southampton FC.
  42. ^ "Spurs Women eliminated from Conti Cup by Chelsea". Tottenham Hotspur. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  43. ^ "Selhurst Park to host 22/23 Women's League Cup final - News". Crystal Palace F.C.
  44. ^ "The FA Women's League Cup Top Scorers". BBC. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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