Scots star Weir bags brace as City win League Cup

TWO goals from Caroline Weir helped Manchester City come from behind to beat holders Chelsea 3-1 in the Continental League Cup final.

Sam Kerr put the Blues in front before City unleashed a ruthless spell in the second half, scoring three goals in 20 minutes from Weir and Ellen White.

Victory was City’s fourth League Cup success, moving them one behind record holders Arsenal.

Chelsea, winners in the past two seasons, appealed for a penalty in the 13th minute when Lucy Bronze’s header hit the arm of team-mate

Alanna Kennedy, but the shouts were waved away.

City came close to an opener in the 25th minute when Georgia Stanway hit a dangerous low ball across the box for Lauren Hemp at the far corner, but her effort bounced off a post.

There was another handball penalty appeal when Hemp’s rebound reached former Sunderland midfielder Demi Stokes at the edge of the penalty area and the left-back’s shot rocketed into the outstretched arm of

Sophie Ingle, but no penalty was given.

Chelsea found the opener in the 34th minute after a miscommunication between Ellie Roebuck and her defence saw the goalkeeper come to claim a cross but the ball fell to Kerr, who tucked away into the bottom corner.

Gareth Taylor’s side made an instant impact after the break, equalising in the 49th minute when Stanway picked out an unmarked Weir in the middle of the box and she slotted past Ann-katrin Berger.

Roebuck was called into action when Niamh Charles hit a shot from the edge of the box, and the England goalkeeper made a great save to her left to clear.

City took the lead in the 58th minute when Hemp fired in a shot which Berger clawed away, but the rebound reached as far as White, who kept her balance to stab home from close range.

And the Scotland international struck again in the 69th minute when a well-worked corner from Stanway found Weir and her sweet volley into the top left corner from 12 yards out sealed the trophy for City.

Although Harry Cornick pulled one back for Luton in the sixth minute of added time by turning in Elijah Adebayo’s low cross, Middlesbrough had already done enough to seal the points.

Wilder said: “It was a different type of performance from us, it was an arm-wrestle. We needed to show different qualities to get over the line.

“From a defensive point of view we did deal with what Luton served up but from a football view it was scrappy, it was an arm-wrestle, turgid. The first goal came from a great bit of play.

“I was disappointed we had a couple of chances before half-time, and Luton came back at us after that with nothing to lose. It became that sort of afternoon, so we had to get over the line by hook or by crook and we did that.

“Luton were on a fabulous run and they are up there for a reason, they have structure and win games of football.

“It became lively, tasty, with moans and groans from each bench. Nathan (Jones) might have moans about a couple of situations and I could moan about a couple of situations too. It was getting the result and squeezing over the line and we have.”