Manchester United Women won their first FA Cup 4-0 against Tottenham Hotspur Women in glorious sunshine at a sold-out Wembley. United were competing in their second successive final, and while we struggled against the top sides in the Women’s Super League this season, it has been the FA Cup where we have shown our grit and determination. It is the club’s first trophy since winning the Championship in the inaugural 2018/19 season.
Tooney sets United on their way
Both sets of fans were in fine voice as the game kicked off and it was Tottenham who had their first effort at goal when Matilda Vinberg cut in from the left but her shot went over the bar. United were then starting to exert their control on the game with several corners that were met by the heads of Millie Turner and Rachel Williams but ultimately couldn’t find the breakthrough. Katie Zelem was providing opportunities for her teammates that would prove fruitful later in the game.
We started to create more chances as the first half went on, with Ella Toone sending her effort wide in the 39th minute. Maya Le Tissier also had a speculative shot from distance that went over the bar in the first half’s final minute. Into stoppage time of the first half, the breakthrough came when Toone picked up from the halfway line making a run toward the goal before skipping past a sliding challenge before hitting her shot from 20 yards out. The resulting effort was powered into the top right corner of the goal to the delight of the United fans. A goal worthy of winning any cup final, but we still had another 45 minutes to go.
The Reds carried on where they left off in the second half and it wasn’t long before we got our second goal of the game. Katie Zelem hit an excellent free-kick into the six-yard box with Rachel Williams heading the ball into the far corner of the net. Only three minutes later, United had their third which was a gift. Tottenham’s goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer was trying to play out from the back but passed the ball into the path of Lucia Garcia. The Spaniard easily put the ball into the empty net to put United into pole position to win the cup final.
The 66th minute saw Tottenham nearly come back into the game when Beth England’s powerful header rattled the bar before the rebound effort was put wide. Other than that, United was in control due to our defence and attack controlling 56% of the possession. Tottenham’s Martha Thomas and Jessica Naz on another day may have proved more of a handful but Jayde Riviere and Hannah Blundell handled them well.
Lucia Garcia would get her second and United’s fourth in the 74th minute. Lisa Naalsund had held up the ball well before laying it off to Garcia who smashed the ball into the top left corner of the net to put the result well and truly in the Red’s favour.
Lisa Naalsund then put her effort over the bar as United looked to extend their lead further. Tottenham’s Beth England saw an effort blocked by Aoife Mannion as we entered stoppage time of the second half. There were no further chances for either side as the final whistle was blown as United players and the fans celebrated winning the FA Cup.
What an incredible day for the Reds and put behind the disappointment of last year’s final. A significant milestone in the history of the club and hopefully it will be the start of many more trophies to come.