Manchester United beat Tottenham to win the FA Cup for the first time

Manchester United made history by lifting their first Women’s FA Cup trophy with a resounding 4-0 win over Tottenham.

Rachel Williams bought all her experience to help lead United’s front line, while Ella Toone showed all her quality to put her boyhood club ahead at Wembley deep into first-half stoppage time.

The FA Cup triumph was completed by Lucia Garcia’s two second-half goals that secured Man U’s first major piece of silverware six years after it was founded.

It was Marc Skinner’s second time in charge of United in an FA Cup final, but they rallied from missed chances and lost last year’s edition to run-of-the-mill winners Chelsea 1-0. But this season, they were seemingly the “experienced” team with their opponents. , Tottenham, featuring in their inaugural final.

Although scattered across the two teams, there were players who have been successful in this competition in the past and on this day, United shone brighter.

Ahead of the final, Williams said lifting the FA Cup for a second time, after winning it with Birmingham 12 years ago, “would finally be a relief”. And when he scored United’s second, he probably didn’t have a different feeling after several chances went begging in the first half. The 36-year-old moved from Tottenham to Manchester United in 2022 and was a hand for her former side throughout the 58-minute cameo.

Williams consistently benefited from Katie Zelem’s corners but for her first try on four minutes she headed wide, nine minutes later she headed wide. Even when she wasn’t heading for goal, she chipped the ball to a sprawling Toone, who could only tip the ball over. It wasn’t just the United striker who caused problems in the air as Martha Thomas had to deny Millie Turner on the line.

But with the continuous flow of chances in the market forged by United, mainly from Williams, it felt like only a matter of time before they punished Spurs’ soft defence. Williams, a former plasterer, held out Ashleigh Neville in the 54th minute to smother Zelam’s free-kick into the far corner.

Skinner said: “The FA Cup now has the same history as the men’s in terms of a plasterer scoring the winner. She (Williams) is a fantastic character.

“He should have scored in the first half if we’re critical, but he played his part and he’s a fantastic man.

“He is a fantastic man. I hope she becomes an iconic player for Manchester United. Remember all the trash I got when I signed it? Well, she’s back, isn’t she?

The header doubled United’s lead after Toone had put them ahead in first-half stoppage time. The England midfielder may lift her first club trophy of her career, but she has performed for England and had huge moments at Wembley Stadium for England.

She put the Lionesses up 1-0 against Germany in the Euro final, and today produced an equally incredible goal with that chip. Toone picked up the ball just inside Tottenham’s half on the stroke of half-time and after tripping Eveliina Summanen, fired into the top corner from outside the box.

Her manager said: “Iconic moment. Iconic player. Iconic club.

“Toone added: ‘I wish I could play here every week! It’s a great stadium, the home of football and it’s a place every young player dreams of playing.

“I’ve been able to do that a few times now and score some good goals, but I also enjoy playing in front of the fans. Having all my family and friends here meant so much.

On the other hand, when Spurs looked to some of their players to help pull them through the tough times of the game, they were nowhere to be found.

For Garcia’s first goal, she was gifted by Rebecca Spencer, who played Williams in Birmingham’s FA Cup win, and the Spaniard was able to finish easily into an open net. in the first half and also thwarted Geyse’s close-range effort, but her finish will be remembered for United’s third.

Between Garcia’s two strikes, Spurs and Beth England had a chance to create some hope, but the two-time FA Cup winner hit the crossbar and that was the closest she came to testing Mary Earps in goal .

The historic afternoon then became even more jubilant when Garcia fired a shot into the roof of the net, but United were in exactly this position last year and used it to move this promising Man United side into a potentially great one.

Skinner said: “We need to use this as a springboard to make sure it’s not a one-off. We have to compete better in the league consistently to be up again. I think that’s what we’ll do.

“This has to be the momentum and the springboard for us to know that we can deliver success for this fantastic club.

For Spurs, as important as it was, it ended in extremely disappointing fashion, although Robert Vilhamn enjoyed the experience and believes Spurs can have a similar journey to United’s success.

The Swedish coach said: “The main thing I said was that this is not the end, this is the beginning.” “We still have a gap between us and the top teams, but that’s normal. We’re closing the gap, but we haven’t closed the gap yet.

“If you take away the feelings right now, you have to look at these players who are doing some incredible things this year.” We are at Wembley playing in front of our fans and they really enjoy it and stay and support us afterwards.

“Today we have good experience and we are learning how to play at Wembley more times. We have to look at it that way because the players are amazing.” It was a draining defeat for this Tottenham side, who can use this to spur them on to their own history, but this was a mature performance by Manchester United. by their experienced heads.