A second-half comeback saw Manchester City beat Chelsea 3-1 in the FA Women’s Continental League Cup Final at Plough Lane.
A frantic opening period saw both sides escape possible penalty decisions and loose touches in their own 18-yard areas, while from a Georgia Stanway cross Lauren Hemp hit the post from close range when the City forward should have scored.
Chelsea made the breakthrough when Guro Reiten’s cross was not dealt with and Sam Kerr’s shot on the turn was squeezed home past City defenders.
Niamh Charles was close to doubling the lead before the interval, volleying just over the bar after a corner.
But when Charles was off the field for treatment soon after the restart, Manchester City got the equaliser when Stanway found Caroline Weir in space in the box and Ann-Katrin Berger was unable to keep the shot out.
Moments after City keeper Ellie Roebuck dived to save from Pernille Harder, a cross from Hemp was parried by Berger and turned into the net by Ellen White.
With 21 minutes to go, City went 3-1 up following a corner, the ball falling to Weir who volleyed into the top corner.
Berger kept Chelsea in the game after blocking a Hayley Raso effort from point-blank range but the holders had to relinquish their grasp on the trophy.
