Manchester United lifted the Women’s FA Cup for the first time in their history following a comfortable 4-0 victory over Tottenham at Wembley.
Ella Toone, who started when United were narrowly beaten by Chelsea in the final a year ago, broke the deadlock with a fine finish in first-half stoppage time.
Rachel Williams, appearing in her fourth FA Cup final, nodded home nine minutes after the restart before an error by Spurs keeper Becky Spencer gifted Lucia Garcia her first goal three minutes later.
HISTORY-MAKERS
Your 2023-24 #AdobeWomensFACup winners are @ManUtdWomen 🔴
🎨 @zemclarke pic.twitter.com/gfBXHwT1X4
— Adobe Women''s FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) May 12, 2024
Captain Bethany England came closest for Tottenham in their maiden FA Cup final with a crossbar-clipping header before Garcia bagged her brace and put the comeback firmly out of reach.
It is the first time since Birmingham’s victory in 2012 – where Williams netted a crucial stoppage-time equaliser for the winners – that the cup hasn’t been won by one of Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester City.
The first half got off to a flying start, Tottenham letting an early chance get away as Matilda Vinberg struck over the bar, before United countered with two opportunities of their own including a Williams effort from a corner nodded just over.
Williams and Vinberg soon had further chances to open the scoring – both missing headers – and by the midway point of the period there was little between the sides, Marc Skinner’s outfit looking marginally more lively but coming up short after Millie Turner and Garcia both failed to find the back of the net with close-range headers in quick succession.
Toone directed the ball over the bar with an outstretched boot, while Martha Thomas steered Spurs away from danger with an excellent block to clear Turner’s header off the line, and Toone curled United’s eighth shot of the afternoon wide of Spencer’s right-hand post.
Lisa Naalsund tried next for United, completely scuffing an effort from the edge of the area as the pace of the game waned significantly.
Just as a goalless first half began to feel like an inevitability, Toone patiently wove her way forward before unleashing a sumptuous strike from distance into the top corner.
United doubled their advantage nine minutes after the restart when Williams rose highest to meet captain Kate Zelem’s free-kick and directed her towering header into the back of the net.
It all began to unravel three minutes later when Spencer completely mishandled a clearance, instead directing her pass straight at Garcia, who obliged the gift with a simple finish.
Spurs were still looking for their first shot on target when England came inches away from pulling one back with Tottenham’s best chance of the afternoon, clipping the crossbar with her header.
Any hope of Tottenham staging a miraculous comeback was thoroughly quashed when they could not deal with substitute Melvine Malard’s cross and Garcia pounced, rifling home to seal the deserved victory.
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
