Chelsea 1-3 Manchester City: Player ratings as City win 2022 Continental Cup final
By Ali Rampling
Manchester City have ended Chelsea's run of domestic dominance with a 3-1 victory over the Blues to win the 2022 Continental Cup final.
Chelsea had led 1-0 at the break, but City turned in an electric second half performance to win their first Continental Cup since 2019.
City came within a whisker of taking the lead after 26 minutes. Lauren Hemp snuck in at the back post to meet Hayley Raso's low cross, but could only smack the woodwork. Demi Stokes picked up the rebound, and her effort appeared to strike the raised arm of Sophie Ingle, but City protests were waved away.
Fran Kirby and Sam Kerr lit up last season's final, and in the absence of the former, it was Kerr who gave Chelsea the lead in the 33rd minute, collecting the rebound after a cross from the left wasn't dealt with by the City backline and sweeping home from close range.
City turned the game on its head in the space of nine second half minutes. Gareth Taylor's side equalised in the 49th minute - Georgia Stanway with the industrious run and pass, and Caroline Weir fired a low shot past Ann-Katrin Berger.
By the 58th minute, City had the lead. Lauren Hemp embarked on a trademark mazy run, and Berger could only fumble her effort into the path of Ellen White, who prodded home.
Weir grabbed her second and City's third 20 minutes from time, crashing home the afters from a corner to seal victory.
Chelsea player ratings
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Ann-Katrin Berger (GK) - 5/10 - Spilled Hemp's effort in the build up to City's second. Got a foot to City's first, but could do little about their third.
Jess Carter (RB) - 6/10 - Had a hotly contested battle with Hemp, as is becoming the norm when the pair meet. Came out on top in the first half, but was second best in the second.
Aniek Nouwen (CB) - 5/10 - Having held firm in the first half, Chelsea's defence looked vulnerable in the second as they shipped three goals.
Millie Bright (CB) - 6/10 - An absolute brick wall in the first half, but Chelsea's backline came unstuck in the second.
Jonna Andersson (LB) - 5/10 - Struggled to deal with the pace of Hemp in the second half when the City winger switched flanks.
2. Midfielders
Niamh Charles (RW) - 7/10 - Big boots to fill coming in for the absent Fran Kirby, and did a thoroughly impressive defensive job on Stokes. Broke up play to trigger a couple of promising counter attacks and sent a well struck volley just over the bar on the stroke of half time.
Sophie Ingle (CDM) - 5/10 - Shielded the back four well in the first half but was overrun in the second as City's midfield three exerted their dominance.
Ji So-yun (CM) - 5/10 - Dictated play in the first half but struggled to get in the game in the second half. Replaced with 12 minutes remaining.
Guro Reiten (LW) - 6/10 - Sent Harder away with an inch perfect through ball in the latter stages of the first half. Provided a high, looping cross in the build up to Chelsea's opener. Replaced after 67 minutes.
3. Forwards
Pernille Harder (ST) - 6/10 - Full of running, with a lung busting drive down the left creating half an opening for Kerr.
Sam Kerr (ST) - 7/10 - Gave Chelsea the lead with a typically instinctive finish in the first half - her fourth Continental Cup final goal.
4. Substitutes
Lauren James - 6/10
Beth England - 5/10
Drew Spence - 5/10
Alsu Abdullina - N/A
Manchester City player ratings
5. Goalkeeper & defenders
Ellie Roebuck (GK) - 6/10 - Could only punch Reiten's cross into the path of Kerr in the build up to Chelsea's opener. Produced a fine stretching save to deny Charles in the second half.
Lucy Bronze (RB) - 6/10 - Went into the book for bringing down Kerr in the first half - taking one for the team to prevent a Chelsea counter attack. Got forward more in the second half with a couple of dangerous marauds down the right flank.
Alanna Kennedy (CB) - 5/10 - Continues to be deployed in a slightly unnatural centre back role. Caught out a couple of times and will be thankful for the pace of Greenwood to tidy up.
Alex Greenwood (CB) - 7/10 - Used her pace and reading of the game to sweep up well at the back, making a goal line clearance inside the opening 13 minutes. Brought the ball out well from defence on a number of occasions.
Demi Stokes (LB) - 6/10 - In a mix up with Roebuck in the build up to Chelsea's opener as they both challenged for the same ball. Got forward frequently but lost possession in the final third on a couple of occasions. Much improved in the second half.
6. Midfielders
Keira Walsh (CDM) - 7/10 - Effortlessly cool on the ball, such a stunning passing range.
Caroline Weir (CM) - 8/10 - Hovered on the edge of the box and fired through a sea of bodies to equalise for City, before emphatically thumping home City's second.
Georgia Stanway (CM) - 7/10 - Set up City's equaliser with a probing run and intelligent pick out to find Weir. Really came into her own in the second half as City won the midfield battle.
7. Forwards
Hayley Raso (RW) - 6/10 - Rewarded for her fine second half performance in the Manchester derby with a start from the off. Switched flanks with Hemp on a couple of occasions. Provided a low cross from which Hemp should have scored.
Ellen White (ST) - 7/10 - Having hardly had a sniff all game, came alive in the box to react first and prod home from close range to give City the lead. Classic Ellen White.
Lauren Hemp (LW) - 8/10 - Rattled the post from close range when she probably should have scored in the first half. Had a typically intriguing battle against Carter - quiet in the first half, electric and influential in the second.
8. Substitutes
Julie Blakstad - 6/10
Khadija Shaw - N/A