Manchester City won the Adobe Women’s FA Cup on Sunday after a 4-0 victory over Brighton thanks to goals from Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, captain Alex Greenwood, Aoba Fujino and Vivianne Miedema.
In front of a crowd of 43,917 under the arches at Wembley stadium, Manchester City secured the domestic double. The Barclays Women’s Super League champions had made two changes from the side that came from behind to beat Chelsea 3-2 in the semi final. During the league campaign Ayaka Yamashita had been the number one goalkeeper, while cup matches, that was Khiara Keating’s domain. However the Japanese number one started in goal at Wembley with Keating missing due to a minor injury picked up in training this week. Manchester City made one further change, Leila Ouahabi was dropped to the bench in her final match for City and Rebecca Knaak started. Grace Clinton began the match in midfield with Vivianne Miedema on the bench.
Both Iman Beney and Laura Wienroither were unavailable to feature in the squad due to injury. Laura Coombs was also on the bench in her final match for a Manchester City side on the precipice of completing the double. Andrée Jeglertz’s side were boosted by their star player Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw signing a new deal after she had looked set to leave for Chelsea.
Brighton started the afternoon with the exact same line up as they did when they secured a 3-2 victory in Crawley a couple of months ago in the WSL. Nadine Noordam, who struck that late, late winner in St Helens to send Brighton to Wembley at the expense of Liverpool, started on the bench. No Brighton side had been to the FA Cup final since the men’s side in 1983, the women’s side had the chance to make history and take the title for the club for the first time.
The Lineups
BHA: Nnadozie; Minami, Hayes, Vanegas, Rule; Seike, Čanković, Symonds, Olislagers; Kirby, Haley
MCI: Yamashita; Casparij, Rose, Knaak, Greenwood; Hasegawa, Blindkilde Brown, Clinton, Kerolin, Hemp, Shaw
The Action
Brighton began the afternoon comfortable in possession, playing out through the press in the early moments. Dario Vidošić’s side were bright in attack too with the first half chance of the match falling to Fran Kirby after a cut back by Kiko Seike, Kirby’s shot was well blocked by Jade Rose. A miscommunication at the back almost saw Brighton take the lead early on. Rose allowed a ball played in behind her to run believing her goalkeeper was closer to it than she was. Madison Haley pounced, kicking the ball into Yamashita and following through unintentionally hurting Yamashita. The referee called to stop play with Manchester City without a keeper between the sticks. After receiving treatment she was able to continue.
Manchester City had their first opportunity shortly after, when a clipped free kick found Lauren Hemp. Hemp’s effort was parried by Chiamaka Nnadozie before the Nigerian gathered the ball on the second attempt. Brighton seemed to be getting closer and finding space in and around their opponents back line. Brighton should have had the lead when excellent pressure on Yui Hasegawa from Seike and Čanković allowed the Serbian to win the ball in the City box. A delightful reverse pass followed but Kirby dawdled for too long on the ball allowing Yamashita to close down the angle. With Kirby’s effort saved, the ball rebounded out to Seike who struck the ball over the bar.
A good move from City sparked their best spell of the final to that point. A touch of magic saw Bunny Shaw past Caitlin Hayes in midfield. Shaw played it onto the on rushing Clinton but her effort was low and comfortable for the keeper to deal with. Shortly after City had another chance, this time it was Hemp finding space at the bye line. Hemp’s cut back found Shaw but her shot was central and low, failing to provide any real test for Nnadozie.
If those moments were warnings for Brighton, they were not heeded. With just over five minutes to play in the first half, Alex Greenwood put an inch perfect ball into the box that Nnadozie failed to deal with. Shaw rose highest and nodded the ball into the back of the net. Brighton tried to fight back before half time, Manuela Vanegas fired a shot on target but it was straight at Yamashita.
Manchester City would double their lead before half time, standing over a free kick on the edge of the box Greenwood fired into the near corner evading Nnadozie’s grasp. City started the second half intent on increasing their advantage, Hemp’s blistering effort was well stopped by Nnadozie and Clinton found her shot well held by Nnadozie shortly after. City nearly put the result beyond doubt when Greenwood’s whipped cross into the box found the head of Knaak but the German headed wide of the post.
City did make it 3-0 with 25 minutes to play as Hemp played Shaw in behind, with Caitlin Hayes unable to recover, Shaw played it across to Miedema. The Dutch striker let it roll through her legs finding substitute Aoba Fujino following in behind her. The Japanese winger cut inside, keeping the Brighton defence guessing before blasting the ball clinically past Nnadozie.
As the clock ticked down Brighton’s keeper was once again forced into action a couple of times, saving from both Shaw and Fujino to keep the score line respectable. Jeglertz’s side would add a fourth, after great work from Kerstin Casparij down the wing she clipped the ball into the box. Miedema was waiting in the middle, nodding home from point blank range. Brighton nearly pulled one back in added time as Čanković set up Hayley but Yamashita saved well with her feet. But that was all she wrote as Manchester City secured the league and cup double.
Brighton Player Ratings
GK: Chiamaka Nnadozie – 6.5/10 – At times unconventional but almost often effective. Will feel like she could have done better for both City’s first half goals. Made a couple of sharp saves in the second half.
RB: Charlize Rule – 5.5/10 – Inverted to good effect early in the match, driving through the midfield she set up Kiko Seike’s early run to the bye line which gave the match its first real chance. Lost the ball late in the first half in a dangerous area and Brighton were made to pay for it. It was harsh on Rule but it proved a costly error.
CB: Moeka Minami – 5.5/10 – A difficult afternoon for the defender as Manchester City overwhelmed Brighton in the air.
CB: Caitlin Hayes – 6/10 – Covered for Rule to great effect more than once as Rule was asked to play in an inverted position in possession at times. Played a number of excellent long balls up field. Had an enjoyable one to one tussle with Shaw this afternoon, but this time Shaw came out on top.
LB: Manuela Vanegas – 6/10 – Struggled to influence the game from the back, it was a difficult match for her side.
RM: Kiko Seike – 6,5/10 – Hustled, harried and set up Fran Kirby early on, an early indication of her value. Seike’s ability to influence the match faded as did her side’s hopes of victory.
CM: Jelena Čanković – 7/10 – Was a constant thorn in City’s side in the first half, always looking to progress the ball forward. As City gained control, her influence dwindled.
CM: Maisie Symonds – 7/10 – Excellent interplay with Olislagers almost set up a golden opportunity midway through the opening half.
LM: Marisa Olislagers – 7.5/10 – Always trying to make herself available to receive a pass and eager to nick the ball off a City player. Created a number of chances for Brighton even if they weren’t able to take them.
ST: Fran Kirby – 6/10 – Missed a golden opportunity to put Brighton ahead in the final, the Seagulls would not get another one. Had some good touches of the ball in the offensive half.
ST: Madison Haley – 7/10 – Looked lively and chased every ball even those seemingly hopeless causes, was almost rewarded for it.
SUBS
Rosa Kafaji (66′ Seike) – 7/10 – With City in the ascendency she was unable to have any great impact on the match.
Maelys Mpome (66′ Rule) – 6.5/10 – Mpome was introduced to a losing battle, she was unable to make the difference.
Rachel McLaughlin (80′ Olislagers) – N/A –
Nadine Noordam (80′ Kirby) – N/A –
Bex Rayner (88′ Symonds) – N/A –
Manchester City Player Ratings
GK: Ayaka Yamashita – 7/10 – An early mix up with Rose could have cost Manchester City, but she did well to react quickly. Kept City level inn the match when they needed her to.
RB: Kerstin Casparij – 8/10 – Helped City to weather the early storm that Brighton conducted. Nabbed an excellent assist for her international team mate to score the fourth.
CB: Rebecca Knaak – 7/10 – A solid showing that ensured City were able to keep a clean sheet. Perhaps will feel she should have scored at Wembley.
CB: Jade Rose – 7/10 – Made a good early block when Brighton were threatening. That was soon followed by poor defensive work to let Haley in and not make sure the ball was safe.
LB: Alex Greenwood – 9/10 – Put an excellent cross in for the Manchester City opener, right on the money from Greenwood. Greenwood then doubled City’s lead from a free kick just outside the box. A captain’s performance.
CM: Yui Hasegawa – 7.5/10 – Lost the ball on the edge of the box in the first half and was lucky not to be punished by a profligate Brighton attack. Came into her own in the second half and began to dictate play, had more passes into the final third than any other player.
CM: Laura Blindkilde Brown – 8/10 – Made an excellent block to deny a good effort on the edge of the box from Brighton. Won more duels than any other player when on the pitch.
CAM: Grace Clinton – 6.5/10 – Clinton had the most shots of any player when on the pitch but City looked a more cohesive unit with Miedema on the pitch.
RW: Kerolin – 6.5/10 – Was rarely involved when on the pitch but did look to hassle the opposition where she could.
LW: Lauren Hemp – 7/10 – Hemp created a few chances but they were not put away, had an effective game even if those chances created were not converted.
ST: Khadija Shaw – 8.5/10 – Shaw was given precious little space to work with early on. Used her height and attacking nous to nod home and open the scoring for City. Had the most headed goals of any WSL player this season by some distance. Set up the third goal too.
SUBS
Aoba Fujino (61′ Kerolin) – 8/10 – Blasted the ball past Nnadozie to put the result beyond doubt, just the impact her manager will have hoped for.
Vivianne Miedema (61′ Clinton) – 8.5/10 – Miedema allowing the ball to roll through her legs for Fujino to finish was the touch of class the Dutch woman always offers. Scored a brilliant header with minutes remaining in the match to boot.
Mary Fowler (76′ Hemp) – 6.5/10 – Came off the bench with the match won.
Sydney Lohmann (76′ Blindkilde Brown) – 6.5/10 – Like Fowler, the game was won by the time she was introduced, she did not put a foot wrong after being introduced.
Laura Coombes (85′ Shaw) – N/A – Came on for her final professional appearance, this one on the Wembley turf. A fitting end to her career.
