‘Heartbreaking’: Mary Fowler’s dream dashed in cruel League Cup final

Matildas star Mary Fowler’s face said it all as she watched her dream turn to dust in a cruel moment with teammates.

Mary Fowler has watched on as her trophy dream was crushed in cruel fashion in Saturday night’s League Cup final.

There were heartbreaking scenes for Fowler and her Manchester City teammates when an own-goal proved to be the difference in their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea at Derby’s Pride Park.

It was first blood to Chelsea as the two clubs prepare to face off in four showdowns in an extraordinary quickly-growing rivalry.

After Chelsea’s win today, the two sides play each other again on Wednesday for the first leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final tie before they play in the WSL next weekend and then the second leg of their European clash four days later.

You can watch the mistake in the video player above.

Yui Hasegawa puts it into the back of her own net. Photo: X and @BarclaysWSL.

Mary Fowler of Manchester City during Women's League Cup Final. Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images.

The clash played in front of 14,187 — far smaller than the record 21,000-strong crowd at last year’s decider — saw the WSL leaders lift their first trophy under Sonia Bompastor.

Chelsea had lost three consecutive League Cup finals heading into Saturday night’s finale.

This time it was City’s turn to taste bitter defeat.

Fowler’s crew appeared to be on top if the contest and they equalised in the 64th minute thanks to a thumping strike by Aoba Fujino.

But in a cruel twist of fate their fight back was thwarted after Hasegawa’s attempted hooked clearance dropped into the net behind keeper Yamashita, The Sun reports.

Mary Fowler had a crack. Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images.

Millie Bright of Chelsea lifts the Women's League Cup. Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images.

Hasegawa dropped to her knees and hung her head in her lap as the ball headed for her own net while teammates, including Fowler, were spotted with their hands on their heads in shock at the costly mistake.

Former England international goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis said on the BBC: “That’s a cruel way to decide this game if it is to be the difference.

“Today, there’s not been much to decide these two teams.”

As the post-game ceremonies began, former England striker Ellen White said on the BBC: “It is heartbreaking for Hasegawa, her teammates will get around her.

“Lucy Bronze goes crazy down the right side. Hasegawa just needed to get a touch on it, it was so unlucky.”

The City midfielder and her teammates will hope for better fortunes when the two sides meet on Wednesday in the Champions League quarters first leg.

— with The Sun