Manchester City have retained the Vitality Women’s FA Cup after Georgia Stanway and Janine Beckie came off the bench to fire home extra-time goals in a 3-1 victory over Everton at Wembley Stadium.
The two sides battled to a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes of football which had just about everything before Stanway struck the winner in the 110th minute of play.
It was a relatively quiet opening at the national stadium with Chloe Kelly’s weak effort allowing Everton keeper Sandy MacIver to make a simple save before Damaris Egurrola lashed the ball over from 10 yards at the other end.
MacIver was definitely the busier of the two goalkeepers in the first half and she had to be alert to push a Kelly effort to safety later in the half before bravely racing out of her goal to beat Sam Mewis to the ball after the City midfielder had bustled her way into the box.
Everton went close twice in quick succession just after the half-hour. First, forward Valerie Gauvin headed narrowly wide following a cross from the right before Hayley Raso fired in an effort on goal, although it was straight at Ellie Roebuck.
It was Manchester City who broke the deadlock five minutes before the break. Alex Greenwood’s corner from the right was met by the towering head of Mewis and the United States international powered the ball home.
If the first half took some time to warm up, the second period was a very different picture with both goalkeepers producing exceptional saves early in the half.
MacIver was the first to pull off one for the cameras. Caroline Weir’s initial shot on goal stumped the far post and the Everton keeper threw her body at Kelly’s effort from the rebound, pushing the ball over. Moments later at the other end, Damaris Egurrola’s shot was tipped over the bar by Roebuck.
Everton then levelled matters from the resulting corner kick. Former Manchester City midfielder Izzy Christiansen delivered from the left and Gauvin diverted the ball home at the front post. The French international was soon agonisingly close to getting her second goal when she headed the ball narrowly wide from a Nicoline Sorensen cross.
Kelly then sent a low effort off target at the other end before Manchester City substitute Stanway curled a shot wide.
The chances continued to flow with Roebuck tipping a Rikke Sevecke delivery onto the bar before Kelly and Weir lifted efforts over. The latter had the crossbar rattling deep in second half stoppage time after curling a shot onto the woodwork from 18 yards as the match ended 1-1 after normal time.
It was Manchester City who came closest to scoring during the first period of extra-time with captain Steph Houghton’s header being superbly pushed onto the post by Player of the Match MacIver.
City made the breakthrough in the second period of additional time as they netted two goals. First, Stanway raced through to connect with a Jess Park pass, steering the ball home via the near post before Beckie capitalised on Everton’s desperation and tiredness by breaking away into space before being played in to slot home her side’s third goal.
The results means that Manchester City are the first side to retain the Vitality Women’s FA Cup since Arsenal did it in 2014. They are also the 50th winners of a Women’s FA Cup final.
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