2023–24 FA Women's League Cup explained

FA Women's League Cup
Year:2023–24
Country:England
Dates:11 October 2023 – 31 March 2024
Num Teams:24
Defending Champions:Arsenal
Champions:Arsenal
Count:7
Runner-Up:Chelsea
Matches:47
Goals:165
Attendance:91,475
Scoring Leader:Stina Blackstenius
(9 goals)
Prev Season:2022–23
Next Season:2024–25

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]

Format

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

Group A

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Group B

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Group C

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Group D

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Group E

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Ranking of second-placed teams

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.

Knock-out stage

Quarter-finals

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.[5] The draw took place on 29 January 2024.[6]

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Semi-finals

The semi-finals took place on 6 and 7 March 2024.[5] The draw took place on 9 February 2024.[7]

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Final

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.[8]

Top goalscorers

Rank[9] PlayerClubGoals
1 Stina BlacksteniusArsenal9
2 Rachel Daly8
3 Nikita ParrisManchester United5
4 Frida MaanumArsenal4
5 Elise HughesCrystal Palace3
Chloe KellyManchester City
Saoirse NoonanDurham
Jessica NazTottenham Hotspur
916 players2

Controversy

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 enough 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.[10]

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.[11] The FA later confirmed that Hayes will not face any action over the incident.[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://womensleagues.thefa.com/league-cup The FA Official site
  2. Web site: Chelsea 1–3 Arsenal: Arsenal win first league cup since 2019. Sport Illustrated. 5 March 2023. 1 September 2023.
  3. Web site: 2023–24 Conti Cup draw made . womenscompetitions.thefa.com . 1 August 2023.
  4. Web site: Defending champions Arsenal drawn into Group D for Continental Tyres League Cup. FA Women's Competitions. 13 September 2023. 14 September 2023.
  5. Web site: Conti Cup group stage dates. womenscompetitions.thefa.com. 7 January 2024.
  6. Web site: Conti Cup quarter-final draw confirmed. The Football Association. 29 January 2024. 29 January 2024.
  7. Web site: FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup semi-final draw made. The Football Association. 9 February 2024. 9 February 2024.
  8. Web site: FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup Final venue confirmed. womenscompetitions.thefa.com. 15 December 2023. 7 January 2024.
  9. Web site: The FA Women's League Cup Top Scorers . BBC . 31 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240331220320/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/fa-wsl-cup/top-scorers . 31 March 2024.
  10. https://amp.theguardian.com/football/2024/jan/29/manchester-united-anger-after-being-dumped-out-of-womens-league-cup-by-tribunal
  11. Web site: Keogh . Emily . 31 March 2024 . Hayes slams 'male aggression' of Arsenal boss . 4 April 2024 . .
  12. News: 3 April 2024 . No FA action over Hayes' 'shove' on Eidevall . 3 April 2024 . .