Defeat for 10-player Arsenal as Man Utd reach first League Cup final
Manchester United reached the Women's League Cup final for the first time with a narrow victory against a wasteful Arsenal.
The game's only goal was a gift for the visitors, with goalkeeper Anneke Borbe sloppily passing the ball out to United's Ellen Wangerheim, who set up a simple finish for Elisabeth Terland.
Terland's strike came at the end of a half which had also seen the Norwegian denied a penalty appeal when she was knocked to the ground by Katie McCabe in the Arsenal box.
Another unnecessary error reduced Arsenal's chances of finding a way back as forward Olivia Smith was shown a second yellow card in the second half after fouling a United player in the final third.
Substitute Melvine Malard should have added a second for the visitors when one-on-one with Borbe, but she flashed an effort over the bar from close range.
In a game where Arsenal often looked the better side - creating more chances and shifting the ball about nicely in the visitors' third - they did little in the way of troubling United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
They will take on holders Chelsea, who beat Manchester City 1-0 on Wednesday, in the final at Bristol City's Ashton Gate on Sunday, 15 March.
Defeat for the Gunners means the seven-time winners have now gone back-to-back seasons without making the final.
Arsenal analysis: Toothless Gunners made to pay
Were it not for a shoddy error at the back, this could have been the third meeting between these sides this season where no goals had been scored.
During their Women's Super League draw at Emirates Stadium earlier this month, ruthlessness in front of goal prevented them from victory.
It has been an issue for much of the season.
In Wednesday night's League Cup semi-final they lacked composure, even on home turf, rarely hitting the target after putting in the work to carve out chances.
When Smilla Holmberg blasted an effort a long way off target that slipped through in the visitors' box, it typified their struggles in the final third.
Renee Slegers' side were too often disjointed in pivotal moments and it proved costly, with their best intensity coming too late to cause any issues for United.
Man Utd analysis: Disciplined Red Devils get their reward
When top sides meet in big matches, they don't always produce classics.
That was the case in this semi-final, but Manchester United have shown they have a knack for doing what is needed in encounters like these.
They were forced to weather a storm throughout at the back and deal with an onslaught of - albeit sometimes frantic - attacks from Arsenal.
Despite spending much of the match on the back foot, they were confident out of possession and patiently waited for the right opportunities.
Terland's goal was well taken, even though it required almost no effort in the build-up, and she should arguably have had a penalty - plus there were other chances for the Red Devils.
They did not outshine Arsenal in terms of being clinical in the final third, but a composed display and taking one of their chances was all that was needed.
What's next for these sides?
Arsenal travel to Chelsea at 12:30 GMT on Saturday.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are away at Aston Villa at 11:55 GMT on Sunday.
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