FA Cup journey ends in Final heartbreak at Wembley | OneFootball

Our historic run in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup ended in heartbreak at the final hurdle as Manchester United claimed a 4-0 victory at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

It has been a journey to be proud of, reaching the final for the first time in our history – just five years after becoming a Barclays Women’s Super League outfit – but it just wasn’t meant to be in front of over 76,000 supporters under the arch at the national stadium.

After a highly contested first half, the deadlock was eventually broken through a stunning strike from Ella Toone on the stroke of half-time before two goals in a three-minute spell by Rachel Williams and Lucia Garcia gave them breathing space, with the latter netting her second late on to help Marc Skinner’s side secure the FA Cup.

Robert Vilahamn made two changes to his starting XI which faced Everton last weekend as Amy James-Turner came in for Molly Bartrip while Martha Thomas replaced Grace Clinton, who was ineligible to face her parent club on the afternoon.

Despite the occasion, competing in our first-ever major final, we didn’t seemed fazed early on as Matilda Vinberg cut inside and created space on the edge of box before sending an effort over the bar while, at the other end, Williams directed her header over from Katie Zelem’s corner.

Our Sweden international, Vinberg, then had another important opportunity inside the opening quarter, looping a header over the bar, but United continued to cause problems, specifically from corners, with Williams, Lucia Garcia and Millie Turner unable to hit the target when presented opportunities from a series of dead-ball deliveries.

United continued to pile on the pressure as Thomas had to make an important block in the six-yard box, denying Turner from a corner however, on the stroke of half time, they found the breakthrough although it took a wonder strike from Toone, the England international picking out the top right corner with a incredible curling effort from around 22 yards out.

Skinner’s side then extended their advantage nine minutes into the second half as former Spur Williams, guided her header into the bottom corner after rising above Ashleigh Neville to meet Zelem’s free-kick and, three minutes later, Garcia made it three as she capitalised on a mistake from Becky Spencer to slot home into an empty net.

Bethany England came within inches of pulling a goal back just after the hour mark, but her header smashed against the crossbar after meeting Amanda Nilden’s cross from the left, while Spencer was called into to action to deny substitute Melvine Malard after the forward had advanced into the box.

United added a fourth on 74 minutes with a second for Garcia after Lisa Naalsund teed up the Spaniard inside the box for her to fire past Spencer. We continued to fight until the end, Drew Spence seeing two efforts from the edge of the box blocked but, while it came to a disappointing end at the national stadium, our run to the final shows the substantial progress that has been made by Vilahamn and his coaching staff in such a short period of time.

Match data

Goals: Man Utd – Toone 45+3, Williams 54, Garcia 57, 74.

Referee: Abi Byrne.

Stadium: Wembley.

Conditions: Sunny, 27 degrees.

Attendance: 76,082.