🏆 Late Blackstenius goal helps Arsenal win Conti Cup | OneFootball

Arsenal sprung something of a shock this afternoon as a late winner helped them beat Chelsea 1-0 in the Women’s Conti Cup final.

Scorers: Blackstenius 116′.

The game was played out in front of a crowd of 21,462 at Molineux – which set a new attendance record for this competition’s cup final.

Chelsea got the first sight of goal early when Lauren James showed fantastic footwork to make room but saw her attempt on goal beaten away to safety.

On 21 minutes, the Blues appeared to have opened the scoring when Mayra Ramírez found the net with a fantastic finish from range but following a check, the goal was ruled out due to an Erin Cuthbert handball in the build-up.

It took half an hour before Hannah Hampton was worked in the Blues goal, reacting well to tip over a long distance effort from Katie McCabe.

There were some surprising half-time changes for both sides as Leah Williamson sparked fresh injury concerns by exiting, while the Blues swapped skippers as Cuthbert emerged with the armband after the break, taking it from Niamh Charles, who remained on the field.

Arsenal’s best chance of the second half came midway through when Cloé Lacasse scampered clear but was again denied by the Chelsea ‘keeper.

Not to be outdone at the other end, Manuela Zinsberger pulled off a top class late save to deny James a goal which would have delivered the cup to Kingsmeadow – enough to keep it level and send the contest to extra-time, though not before a lengthy stoppage for what appeared to be a serious injury to Arsenal’s Frida Manuum.

Arsenal pushed on in extra-time, with Blackstenius shooting wide when well placed. But the Arsenal star made amends with just minutes left to play in the second half of extra time, sweeping her side into a late lead, and leaving the Gunners on the verge of success.