Manchester United Hammer Spurs To Lift Their First Women’s FA Cup

The Red Devils ran riot at Wembley as they cruised past first-time finalists Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 to lift their first-ever major trophy in front of a crowd of over 76,000.

Lioness Ella Toone opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time as she drove a curling shot from distance into the top right corner. Spurs never recovered as Rachel Williams and Lucia García also netted to extend United’s lead and confirm victory.

Photo: Reuters

United came out of the starting blocks fast, carving the first chance of the game inside the opening five minutes as Williams rose highest from Katie Zelem’s corner but powered her header over the crossbar. Spurs responded with Swedish international Matilda Vinberg heading over the woodwork. Manchester United continued to threaten the Spurs defence as Williams, García and Millie Turner failed to hit the target from a spread of set-pieces.

On the stroke of half time, United eventually broke the deadlock as Lisa Naaslund advanced on the left, and squared the ball to TOONE who drove towards goal unchallenged before curling an effort into the top right corner. United continued to threaten Spurs in the second half and extended their lead in the 54th minute as Zelem floated her free-kick into the box, WILLIAMS rose highest and guided her header back across goal into the bottom right corner. Minutes later, United netted their third as Spurs’ goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer's first touch clearance was pounced onto by GARCIA who calmly slotted into an empty net from yards out.

Spurs had the chance to get back into the game as Amanda Nilden’s delivery was met by Beth England but the header rattled the crossbar. Melvine Malard saw her effort smartly saved by Spencer as she looked to recover from her mistake earlier on. In the 75th minute, United confirmed victory with a fourth goal as Malard’s cross was bought down well by Turner; she laid the ball back to GARCIA who curled her effort into the top left corner.

UNITED XI: Earps, Riviere (sub 78min, Mannion), Blundell, Zelem, Le Tissier, Turner, García (sub 77min, Geyse), Naalsund, Williams (Sub 58min, Parris), Toone (sub 78min, Miyazawa), Galton (sub 50min, Malard).

Unused Subs: Guerrero, Ladd, Evans, Tullis-Joyce.

SPURS XI: Spencer, Neville, Nildén (sub 68min, Grant), Summanen (sub 68min, Graham), James-Turner, Bühler, Naz (sub 54min, Bizet Ildhusøy), Spence, England, Thomas (sub 68min, Ayane) Vinberg (sub 54min, Wang Shuang).

Unused Subs: Votíková, Bartrip, Petzelberger, Ahtinen.