Women's League Cup Results Part 1 (played 2/10/22) (B Davies, Francis-Jones, J Green, Holland, Carrie Jones, Leek, R Roberts, Walters, Chloe Williams)

 FA Women’s League Cup Results

It all could have been so simple. Teams play each other; if there’s a draw, there’s a penalty shoot-out. The winner of each match progresses to the next round, and so on until there’s only one team left. That’s how the men do it and it only gets complicated when the FA Cup winners manage to get themselves relegated (yes, Wigan Athletic: I mean you. You legends).

It’s not like that in the Women’s League Cup, which seems to be under the impression that it’s the Champions League. The teams are divided into groups of four or five teams and play each other once. It’s three points for a win and one for a draw. However, if there is a draw, the teams have a penalty shoot-out and the winner gets an extra point.

So at the end of each match, three points are awarded. If the game is won outright, all three points go to the winner as usual. If the game is won by a penalty shoot-out, the winner of the shoot-out gets two points and the other team gets one. With me so far? I wouldn’t blame you if you weren’t.

Once all the teams have played each other, the team at the top of the group qualifies for the next round. Because Manchester City were knocked out of the Champions League and entered the League Cup earlier than expected, the best-placed second-place team will also progress to the next round. (They could just have let Manchester City enter in a later round regardless of their Champions League status, but that would have been FAR too easy.)

So that’s how it works. I think. Maybe…

 

GROUP A

Durham Women 3-3 Sheffield United (Durham win 5-3 on penalties)

Georgia Walters made her first start of the season for Sheffield United and despite the result, it didn’t exactly prove a bad decision. Georgia scored her first Sheffield United goal in the 43^rd minute after some clever play, bringing the score back to 2-1. She also got the equaliser with a close-range header in the 64^th minute.

Bethan Davies dropped to the bench for the first time this season and was unable to help save the penalties for Sheffield United. Maria Francis-Jones was also an unused substitute.

Durham are top on goals scored, tied with Aston Villa, who drew with Manchester United and then won the penalty shoot-out on Saturday. Sheffield United and Manchester United both have one point; Everton are yet to play.

 

GROUP B

Blackburn Rovers 0-3 Leicester City

It’s always nice when things go well and football is no exception. Leicester were without a win this season, but that soon changed – they were already 3-0 up when Ellen Jones made her Leicester debut in the 71^st minute. She was Leicester’s only Welsh representative, but let’s look on the positive side and assume Josie Green and Carrie Jones were rested.

Things didn’t go quite as well for Blackburn, but this is the kind of situation when a team is going to be very glad of the complicated rules. Blackburn are down at the bottom of the table, but they’re not out. Ellie Leek and Chloe Williams returned to the starting eleven for Blackburn. Lauren Thomas was on the bench.

Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool

Liverpool started with both their Welsh stars on the bench. They started strongly and went 1-0 up within half an hour. Sunderland had their chances, but Liverpool were the dominant team and the only surprise was that they only scored once - they didn't lack chances.

Ceri Holland joined the fray in the 84^th minute. Rhiannon Roberts was scheduled to start, but a problem in the warm-up saw her dropped to the bench as a precaution and she didn’t play any part in the match. You can watch highlights here.

Leicester are top, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference. Sunderland and Blackburn, who lost, and Manchester City, who haven’t played yet, are tied on zero points.