2023–24 FA Women's League Cup

The 2023–24 FA Women's League Cup was the thirteenth 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. Arsenal were the defending champions.[2]

2023–24 FA Women's League Cup
Molineux Stadium hosted the final
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Dates11 October 2023 – 31 March 2024
Teams24
Defending championsArsenal
Final positions
ChampionsArsenal (7th title)
Runner-upChelsea
Tournament statistics
Matches played47
Goals scored165 (3.51 per match)
Attendance91,475 (1,946 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Stina Blackstenius
(9 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 1 August 2023 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 United and Arsenal who took part in the Champions League qualifying rounds. If either team were 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] Arsenal were eliminated from the Champions League in the first qualifying round and were drawn into Group D.[4] Manchester United were eliminated from the Champions League in the second qualifying round and were automatically drawn into Group B.

The first place team in each of the five groups qualified for the knock-out stage. As Arsenal and Manchester United both failed to progress in the Champions League, the two best-placed runners-up also progressed to make eight teams in the quarter-finals.

Group stage

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Group A

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Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Sunderland (Q) 4 3 0 1 0 8 4 +4 10 Advanced to knock-out stage
2 Aston Villa (Q) 4 3 0 0 1 17 1 +16 9 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 Durham 4 1 2 0 1 7 10 −3 7
4 Blackburn Rovers 4 1 0 0 3 5 13 −8 3
5 Sheffield United 4 0 0 1 3 3 12 −9 1
Source: FA Women's League Cup
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
Durham3–2Blackburn Rovers
Report
Attendance: 623
Referee: Ali Rahjoo
Sheffield United2–3Sunderland
Report
Attendance: 264
Referee: Abby Dearden

Sunderland2–2Durham
Report
Penalties
1–3
Attendance: 665
Referee: Phoebe Cross
Sheffield United0–5Aston Villa
Report
Attendance: 554
Referee: Aaron Ford

Aston Villa7–0Blackburn Rovers
Report
Attendance: 4,579
Referee: Phoebe Cross
Durham1–1Sheffield United
Report
Penalties
8–7
Attendance: 624
Referee: Rebecca Welch

Aston Villa5–1Durham
Report
Attendance: 1,488
Blackburn Rovers0–3Sunderland
Report

Blackburn Rovers3–0Sheffield United
Report
SunderlandH–W[note 1]Aston Villa
Report
Attendance: 870

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Manchester City (Q) 4 3 0 1 0 10 7 +3 10 Advanced to knock-out stage
2 Manchester United 4 3 0 0 1 12 3 +9 9 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 Leicester City 4 2 1 0 1 10 7 +3 8
4 Liverpool 4 1 0 0 3 6 8 −2 3
5 Everton 4 0 0 0 4 3 16 −13 0
Source: FA Women's League Cup
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
Leicester City2–1Liverpool
Report
Attendance: 485
Referee: Lisa Benn
Everton1–2Manchester City
Report
Attendance: 1,105
Referee: Megan Wilson

Liverpool3–4Manchester City
Report
Attendance: 1,045
Referee: Elizabeth Simms
Manchester United7–0Everton
Report
Attendance: 1,804
Referee: Megan Wilson

Liverpool0–1Manchester United
Report
Attendance: 1,958
Referee: Melissa Burgin
Manchester City2–2Leicester City
Report
Penalties
3–4
Attendance: 1,358
Referee: James Bell

Everton1–2Liverpool
Report
Attendance: 1,242
Manchester United3–1Leicester City
Report
Attendance: 2,068
Referee: Phoebe Cross

Manchester City2–1Manchester United
Report 1 Report 2
Attendance: 4,818
Referee: Lauren Impey
Leicester City5–1Everton
Report

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 London City Lionesses (Q) 3 2 0 1 0 5 3 +2 7 Advanced to knock-out stage
2 Crystal Palace 3 1 0 1 1 5 3 +2 4 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 Lewes 2 0 1 0 1 1 2 −1 2
4 Watford 2 0 1 0 1 2 5 −3 2
Updated to match(es) played on 24 January 2024. Source: FA Women's League Cup
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
London City Lionesses2–2Watford
Report
Penalties
6–7
Attendance: 216
Referee: Sunny Sukhvir Gill
Lewes1–1Crystal Palace
Report
Penalties
2–0
Attendance: 403
Referee: Jade Wardle

Crystal Palace3–0Watford
Report
Attendance: 284
Referee: Aaron Ford
Lewes0–1London City Lionesses
Report
Attendance: 315
Referee: Levi Gray

London City Lionesses2–1Crystal Palace
Report
Attendance: 242
WatfordCancelledLewes
Report

Group D

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Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Arsenal (Q) 4 3 1 0 0 14 5 +9 11 Advanced to knock-out stage
2 Tottenham Hotspur (Q) 4 3 0 1 0 15 3 +12 10 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 Southampton 4 1 1 0 2 3 6 −3 5
4 Bristol City 4 0 0 2 2 3 8 −5 2
5 Reading 4 0 1 0 3 1 14 −13 2
Updated to match(es) played on 24th January 2024. Source: FA Women's League Cup
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
Bristol City1–1Southampton
Report
Penalties
3–4
Robins HPC, Failand
Attendance: 597
Referee: Will Finnie
Tottenham Hotspur6–0Reading
Report
Attendance: 531
Referee: Amy Fearns

Reading0–1Southampton
Report
Attendance: 235
Referee: Stacey Fullicks
Arsenal3–1Bristol City
Report
Attendance: 1,974
Referee: Lisa Benn

Tottenham Hotspur3–0Bristol City
Report
Attendance: 506
Southampton1–2Arsenal
Report
Attendance: 13,438
Referee: Stacey Pearson

Arsenal3–3Tottenham Hotspur
Report
Penalties
4–3
Attendance: 3,618
Referee: Emily Heaslip
Bristol City1–1Reading
Report
Penalties
4–5
Robins HPC, Failand
Attendance: 648

Reading0–6Arsenal
Report
Attendance: 3,784
Referee: Levi Gray
Southampton0–3Tottenham Hotspur
Report
Attendance: 1,734
Referee: Lisa Benn

Group E

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Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Brighton & Hove Albion (Q) 3 3 0 0 0 8 2 +6 9 Advanced to knock-out stage
2 Charlton Athletic 3 1 0 0 2 3 4 −1 3 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 West Ham United 3 1 0 0 2 4 6 −2 3
4 Birmingham City 3 1 0 0 2 2 5 −3 3
Source: FA Women's League Cup
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
Birmingham City0–3Brighton & Hove Albion
Report
Attendance: 588
Referee: Phoebe Cross
West Ham United2–1Charlton Athletic
Report
Attendance: 413
Referee: Lauren Impey

Charlton Athletic1–0Birmingham City
Report
The Oakwood, Bexley
Attendance: 276
Referee: Grace Lowe
Brighton & Hove Albion3–1West Ham United
Report
Attendance: 845
Referee: Amy Fearns

Charlton Athletic1–2Brighton & Hove Albion
Report
The Oakwood, Bexley
Attendance: 365
Referee: Grace Lowe
Birmingham City2–1West Ham United
Report
Attendance: 781

Ranking of second-placed teams

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Due to Arsenal's and Manchester United's failure to progress from Champions League qualifying, they entered the League Cup group stage. With only one team receiving a bye to the League Cup quarter-finals, two best-placed runner-up teams progressed with the five group winners to make up the final eight. The ranking to determine which two second-placed teams progressed was calculated on a points-per-game basis.

Pos Grp Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 D Tottenham Hotspur (Q) 4 3 0 1 0 15 3 +12 10 2.50 Advanced to knock-out stage
2 A Aston Villa (Q) 4 3 0 0 1 17 1 +16 9 2.25
3 B Manchester United 4 3 0 0 1 12 3 +9 9 2.25
4 C Crystal Palace 3 1 0 1 1 5 3 +2 4 1.33
5 E Charlton Athletic 3 1 0 0 2 3 4 −1 3 1.00
Source: [citation needed]
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated

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 group stage due to their participation in the Champions League group stage. The quarter-finals took place on 7 February 2024.[7] The draw took place on 29 January 2024.[8]

London City Lionesses (2)0–4Arsenal (1)
Report
Attendance: 3,900
Referee: Lisa Benn

Brighton & Hove Albion (1)1–1 (a.e.t.)Aston Villa (1)
Report
Penalties
0–2
Attendance: 1,050
Referee: Lauren Impey

Chelsea (1)5–0Sunderland (2)
Report
Attendance: 765
Referee: Phoebe Cross

Tottenham Hotspur (1)0–1Manchester City (1)
Report
Attendance: 731
Referee: Amy Fearns

Semi-finals

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The semi-finals took place on 6 and 7 March 2024.[7] The draw took place on 9 February 2024.[10]

Arsenal (1)4–0Aston Villa (1)
Report
Attendance: 3,507
Referee: Paul Howard

Manchester City (1)0–1Chelsea (1)
Report
Attendance: 3,066
Referee: Andrew Kitchen

Final

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On 15 December 2023, it was announced that the 2024 FA Women's League Cup final would be held at Molineux Stadium, the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers, for the first time. The final took place on 31 March 2024.[11]

Arsenal (1)1–0 (a.e.t.)Chelsea (1)
Attendance: 21,462
Referee: Cheryl Foster

Top goalscorers

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Rank[12] Player Club Goals
1   Stina Blackstenius Arsenal 9
2   Rachel Daly Aston Villa 8
3   Nikita Parris Manchester United 5
4   Frida Maanum Arsenal 4
5   Elise Hughes Crystal Palace 3
  Chloe Kelly Manchester City
  Saoirse Noonan Durham
  Jessica Naz Tottenham Hotspur
9 16 players 2

Controversy

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Aston Villa were docked three points in their group table after finding an illegible player in their game against Sunderland. This altered the standings with Aston Villa, originally first in the group, dropping down to second and Sunderland replacing them at the top. Before the points deduction, Sunderland's performance wasn't sufficient to qualify for the quarter finals as one of the best second place teams; however Aston Villa, now in second place, did qualify as one of the best second place teams. This came at the expense of Manchester United who took the FA's decision to an independent tribunal arguing they should not be dismissed from the quarter finals because a different club broke the competition rules however the tribunal ruled in favour of the FA.[13]

After the final, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was seen to have shoved Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall as they shook hands. Hayes claimed it was due to Eidevall's "unacceptable male aggression" on the touchline after an altercation with Erin Cuthbert during the match.[14] The FA later confirmed that Hayes will not face any action over the incident.[15]

Notes

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  1. ^ Aston Villa won the match 7–0 but Sunderland were awarded a scoreless victory via independent tribunal and the record was expunged on 29 January after Aston Villa were found guilty of fielding an inelligible cup-tied player. As a result, Sunderland were promoted to group winners while Aston Villa still qualified from the group but as a best-placed runner-up instead of a group winner at the expense of Group B runners-up Manchester United.[5]
  2. ^ Watford v Lewes was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on 24 January 2024.[6]
  3. ^ London City Lionesses v Arsenal was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on 7 February 2024.[9]

References

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  1. ^ The FA Official site
  2. ^ "Chelsea 1–3 Arsenal: Arsenal win first league cup since 2019". Sport Illustrated. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  3. ^ "2023–24 Conti Cup draw made". womenscompetitions.thefa.com. 1 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Defending champions Arsenal drawn into Group D for Continental Tyres League Cup". FA Women's Competitions. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Villa stay in League Cup despite ineligible player". BBC Sport.
  6. ^ "Women: Lewes Match Postponed Due To Waterlogged Pitch". www.watfordfc.com.
  7. ^ a b "Conti Cup group stage dates". womenscompetitions.thefa.com. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Conti Cup quarter-final draw confirmed". The Football Association. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Arsenal get new date for London City quarter-final". BBC Sport.
  10. ^ "FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup semi-final draw made". The Football Association. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  11. ^ "FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup Final venue confirmed". womenscompetitions.thefa.com. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  12. ^ "The FA Women's League Cup Top Scorers". BBC. Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  13. ^ https://amp.theguardian.com/football/2024/jan/29/manchester-united-anger-after-being-dumped-out-of-womens-league-cup-by-tribunal
  14. ^ Keogh, Emily (31 March 2024). "Hayes slams 'male aggression' of Arsenal boss". ESPN. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  15. ^ "No FA action over Hayes' 'shove' on Eidevall". BBC Sport. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
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