2020–21 FA Women's League Cup

The 2020–21 FA Women's League Cup was the tenth edition of the FA Women's Super League and FA Women's Championship's league cup competition. It was sponsored by Continental AG, who sponsored the competition since its creation, and was officially known as the FA Women's Continental League Cup for sponsorship reasons. All 23 teams from the FA Women's Super League and FA Women's Championship took part in the competition. Chelsea were the defending champions and successfully defended the title by beating Bristol City in the final.

2020–21 FA Women's League Cup

Tournament details
Country	England
Dates	7 October 2020 – 14 March 2021
Teams	23
Defending champions	Chelsea
Final positions
Champions	Chelsea (2nd title)
Runners-up	Bristol City
Tournament statistics
Matches played	38
Goals scored	137 (3.61 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)	Bianca Baptiste (6)
← 2019–20 2021–22 →

Format changes

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the 2020–21 season was delayed, forcing many leagues and competitions to shorten their format. To reduce the total number of games, the previous format of four groups of six (with one being reduced in size by one to suit the total of 23 teams) was altered to six groups of four (with one short again), reducing the number of group stage games from five each to three each. With six group winners now, only the two best second place teams qualified for the knock-out round.^[1]

Group stage

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		AST	DUR	SHU	COV
1	Aston Villa	3	2	1	0	0	11	1	+10	8	Advanced to knock-out stage		—	—	1–0	—
2	Durham	3	2	0	1	0	12	3	+9	7	Possible knock-out stage based on ranking		1–1	—	—	5–2
3	Sheffield United	3	1	0	0	2	4	7	−3	3			—	0–6	—	—
4	Coventry United	3	0	0	0	3	2	18	−16	0			0–9	—	0–4	—

Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

7 October 2020

Durham	5–2	Coventry United
Hepple 38', 44' (pen.) Sharpe 56' Galloway 87'		Dermody 20' Anderson 84'

Maiden Castle, Durham

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

7 October 2020

19:30

Aston Villa	1–0	Sheffield United
Hutton 38' (pen.)

Bescot Stadium, Walsall

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Elizabeth Simms

---

4 November 2020

Sheffield United	0–6	Durham
		Hill 45+1' (pen.) Gears 58' Roberts 60' Robson 67' Galloway 75' Sharpe 80'

Technique Stadium, Chesterfield

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Christina Hattersley

10 November 2020

Coventry United	0–9	Aston Villa
		Hanssen 7', 11', 28' Syme 19' Follis 50' (pen.) Silva 56', 90+4' Hayles 71', 75'

Butts Park Arena, Coventry

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Amy Fearn

---

19 November 2020

Durham	1–1	Aston Villa
Roberts 4'		Follis 73'
Penalties
Wilson Hepple Lambert Briggs	2–4	Follis Hanssen Siems Larsen Haigh

Maiden Castle, Durham

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Christiana Hattersley

19 November 2020

Coventry United	0–4	Sheffield United
		Little 9' Wilkinson 33' Pennock 66' Johnson 77'

Butts Park Arena, Coventry

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Callum Parke

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		CHE	ARS	TOT	LCL
1	Chelsea	2	2	0	0	0	6	1	+5	6	Advanced to knock-out stage		—	4–1	2–0	—
2	Arsenal	3	1	1	0	1	7	6	+1	5	Possible knock-out stage based on ranking		—	—	2–2	—
3	Tottenham Hotspur	3	1	0	1	1	6	4	+2	4			—	—	—	4–0
4	London City Lionesses	2	0	0	0	2	0	8	−8	0			C–C[α]	0–4	—	—

Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

1. Match originally postponed following three positive COVID-19 tests by London City Lionesses players.^[2] An independent tribunal determined the fixture would not be rescheduled as it would have no effect on qualifying.^[3]

7 October 2020

Tottenham Hotspur	4–0	London City Lionesses
Percival 12' Kennedy 29' Ayane 35' Addison 82'

The Hive, Canons Park

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Sarah Garratt

7 October 2020

Chelsea	4–1	Arsenal
Eriksson 5' Reiten 10', 15' England 90'		Foord 8'

Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Scott Jackson

---

3 November 2020

Chelsea	2–0	Tottenham Hotspur
Cuthbert 70' Leupolz 84'

Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Emily Heaslip

4 November 2020

London City Lionesses	0–4	Arsenal
		Miedema 22', 28', 41', 54'

Princes Park, Dartford

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

---

18 November 2020

Arsenal	2–2	Tottenham Hotspur
Miedema 12' Foord 71'		Percival 59' Zadorsky 88'
Penalties
McCabe Wubben-Moy Beattie Foord Wälti	5–4	Quinn Percival Kennedy Davison Morgan

Meadow Park, Borehamwood

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Amy Fearn

18 November 2020

London City Lionesses	Cancelled	Chelsea

Princes Park, Dartford

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Group C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		MCI	EVE	LIV	MNU
1	Manchester City	3	2	0	1	0	6	1	+5	7	Advanced to knock-out stage		—	3–1	—	—
2	Everton	3	2	0	0	1	3	3	0	6	Possible knock-out stage based on ranking		—	—	1–0	1–0
3	Liverpool	3	1	0	0	2	3	5	−2	3			0–3	—	—	3–1
4	Manchester United	3	0	1	0	2	1	4	−3	2			0–0	—	—	—

Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

7 October 2020

14:00

Liverpool	3–1	Manchester United
Furness 33' (pen.), 83' Babajide 72' (pen.)		McManus 28'

Prenton Park, Birkenhead

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Rebecca Walsh

7 October 2020

19:00

Manchester City	3–1	Everton
Lavelle 51' Kelly 76' Park 90+2'		Turner 20'

Academy Stadium, Manchester

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Simon Mather

---

4 November 2020

14:00

Liverpool	0–3	Manchester City
		Coombs 42' Lavelle 52' Park 90+2'

Prenton Park, Birkenhead

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Sarah Garratt

18 November 2020

19:00

Everton	1–0	Liverpool
Christiansen 6'

Walton Hall Park, Walton Hall Park

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

---

19 November 2020

19:00

Manchester United	0–0	Manchester City
Penalties
Toone Groenen M. Turner Ladd	4–3	Mewis Coombs Beckie Stanway Greenwood

Leigh Sports Village, Leigh

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Helen Conley

16 December 2020

19:20

Everton	1–0	Manchester United
Graham 74'

Walton Hall Park, Walton Hall Park

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Ed Duckworth

Group D

Pos	Team	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		WHU	REA	BHA	CHA
1	West Ham United	3	2	1	0	0	9	2	+7	8	Advanced to knock-out stage		—	3–0	—	—
2	Reading	3	2	0	0	1	6	3	+3	6	Possible knock-out stage based on ranking		—	—	—	4–0
3	Brighton & Hove Albion	2	0	0	1	1	2	4	−2	1			2–2	0–2	—	—
4	Charlton Athletic	2	0	0	0	2	0	8	−8	0			0–4	—	C–C[α]	—

Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

1. Match originally postponed following positive COVID-19 test by Brighton staff.^[4] An independent tribunal determined the fixture would not be rescheduled as it would have no effect on qualifying.^[3]

7 October 2020

19:30

Brighton & Hove Albion	2–2	West Ham United
Connolly 42' Jarrett 61'
Penalties
Jarrett Heroum Williams Bowman	2–4	Van Egmond Grant Daly Pacheco Lehmann

Broadfield Stadium, Crawley

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Steven Hughes

7 October 2020

19:30

Reading	4–0	Charlton Athletic
Carter 27' Harding 68', 70' Chaplen 90+2'

Madejski Stadium, Reading

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

---

4 November 2020

19:30

West Ham United	3–0	Reading
Lehmann 14' van Egmond 51' Daly 58'

Victoria Road, Dagenham

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Aji Ajibola

4 November 2020

19:45

Charlton Athletic	Cancelled	Brighton & Hove Albion

The Oakwood, Crayford

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

---

18 November 2020

19:30

Brighton & Hove Albion	0–2	Reading
		Harding 28' Eikeland 73'

Broadfield Stadium, Crawley

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Ryan Atkin

18 November 2020

19:45

Charlton Athletic	0–4	West Ham United
		van Egmond 3' Kiernan 45', 50' Thomas 64'

The Oakwood, Crayford

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Luke Donaldson

Group E

Pos	Team	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		LEI	BIR	BLB
1	Leicester City	2	1	1	0	0	5	2	+3	5	Advanced to knock-out stage		—	—	5–2
2	Birmingham City	2	1	0	1	0	1	0	+1	4	Possible knock-out stage based on ranking		0–0	—	—
3	Blackburn Rovers	2	0	0	0	2	2	6	−4	0			—	0–1	—

Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

7 October 2020

19:45

Blackburn Rovers	0–1	Birmingham City
		Walker 81'

Irongate, Bamber Bridge

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

4 November 2020

19:45

Leicester City	5–2	Blackburn Rovers
Flint 5', 32' Devlin 78' Bailey-Gayle 81' McDonald 90+4' (o.g.)		Hughes 51' Newsham 57'

Farley Way Stadium, Quorn

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Georgia Ball

9 December 2020

14:00

Birmingham City	0–0	Leicester City
Penalties
Murray Walker Hampton Brougham Corsie Scofield	5–6	Allen Devlin Smith Plumptre Blanchard Everett

Damson Park, Solihull

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Group F

Pos	Team	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		BRI	CRY	LON	LEW
1	Bristol City	3	3	0	0	0	11	3	+8	9	Advanced to knock-out stage		—	—	4–0	—
2	Crystal Palace	3	2	0	0	1	10	6	+4	6	Possible knock-out stage based on ranking		2–4	—	6–1	—
3	London Bees	3	1	0	0	2	2	10	−8	3			—	—	—	1–0
4	Lewes	3	0	0	0	3	2	6	−4	0			1–3	1–2	—	—

Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

7 October 2020

19:30

Bristol City	4–0	London Bees
Robert 10' (o.g.) Logarzo 12' Salmon 80' Wellings 82'

Twerton Park, Bath

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Dale Wootton

7 October 2020

Lewes	1–2	Crystal Palace
Jones 59'		Baptiste 76', 90'

The Dripping Pan, Lewes

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

---

4 November 2020

London Bees	1–0	Lewes
Pickett 27'

The Hive Stadium, Edgware

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

5 November 2020

19:45

Crystal Palace	2–4	Bristol City
Baptiste 55', 58'		Bissell 19' Logarzo 30', 41' Wellings 51'

Hayes Lane, Bromley

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Ryan Atkin

---

18 November 2020

19:45

Lewes	1–3	Bristol City
Cleverly 55'		Purfield 22' Bissell 30' Salmon 31'

The Dripping Pan, Lewes

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Chloe-Ann Anderson

19 November 2020

Crystal Palace	6–1	London Bees
Haines 14' (pen.) Baptiste 17', 58' Nunn 30' (o.g.) Khassal 45' Taylor 90'		Hazard 8'

Hayes Lane, Bromley

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Ranking of second-placed teams

Due to Group E containing one fewer team, the ranking to determine which two second-placed teams progress is calculated on a points-per-game basis.^[5]

Pos	Grp	Team	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	PPG	Qualification
1	A	Durham	3	2	0	1	0	12	3	+9	7	2.33	Advanced to knock-out stage
2	F	Crystal Palace	3	2	0	0	1	10	6	+4	6	2.00
3	D	Reading	3	2	0	0	1	6	3	+3	6	2.00
4	E	Birmingham City	2	1	0	1	0	1	0	+1	4	2.00
5	C	Everton	3	2	0	0	1	3	3	0	6	2.00
6	B	Arsenal	3	1	1	0	1	7	6	+1	5	1.67

Source: thefa.com

Knock-out stage

Quarter-finals

The draw for this round was made live on BT Sport Score on 19 December 2020.^[6] The two teams that qualified as best placed runners-up could not be drawn against the teams that topped their respective groups meaning Bristol City were not eligible to face Crystal Palace and Durham could not be drawn with Aston Villa. Manchester City's match against Chelsea was postponed following a COVID-19 outbreak in the Manchester City first-team squad.^[7]

13 January 2021

19:30

Bristol City	2–1	Aston Villa
Salmon 55', 58'	Report	Larsen 86'

Twerton Park, Bath

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis

---

14 January 2021

20:00

Crystal Palace	0–1	Leicester City
	Report	Flint 89'

Hayes Lane, Bromley

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

---

20 January 2021

17:30

Manchester City	2–4 (a.e.t.)	Chelsea
Kelly 52' Hemp 85'	Report	Leupolz 43' Charles 89' Reiten 95' Ingle 105'

Academy Stadium, Manchester

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Richie Watkins

---

21 January 2021

17:30

West Ham United	3–0	Durham
van Egmond 40' Svitková 43' Cissoko 84'	Report

Victoria Road, Dagenham

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Steven Hughes

Semi-finals

3 February 2021

15:00

Chelsea	6–0	West Ham United
Harder 4', 27', 86' Ingle 15' England 27' Kirby 69'	Report

Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Stacey Pearson

---

3 February 2021

19:30

Bristol City	1–0	Leicester City
Skeels 72'	Report

Twerton Park, Bath

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Referee: Rebecca Welch

Final

Main article: 2021 FA Women's League Cup Final

On 28 January, it was announced the 2021 FA Women's League Cup final would be held at Vicarage Road, the home of Watford FC, for the first time.^[8] The game was televised live domestically on BT Sport 2 and internationally via the FA's own streaming service the FA Player.^[9]

14 March 2021

14:30

Bristol City	0–6	Chelsea
	Report	Kerr 2', 10', 48' Kirby 28', 38' Reiten 54'

Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire

Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)

Referee: Abi Byrne

See also

• 2020–21 FA WSL
• 2020–21 FA Women's Championship