LONDON - Midfielder Ella Toone fired a stunning strike as ManchCup trophyester United won the Women's FA Cup for the first time with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the final on Sunday.
Marc Skinner's side, who lost in last year's final to Chelsea, dominated the match and went ahead on the stroke of halftime through Toone's screamer from outside the penalty box.
We have to deliver trophies for an expectant fanbase and our supporters, who are the best in the world. That pressure is a privilege.
Marc Skinner, Manager
A header from Rachel Williams and two goals from Spanish forward Lucia Garcia after the break sealed the first major trophy for United since the team reformed in 2018.
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"Wembley is always special. Last year we spoke as a group and said 'one day that will be ours' and today's the day so I'm buzzing," goalkeeper Mary Earps, who had little to do all afternoon, told the BBC on the pitch where she also won Euro 2022 with England.
The atmosphere was buzzing on a sunny day at Wembley Stadium with 76,082 fans in attendance along with United's co-owner Avram Glazer and Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.
However, the first half produced few chances of note until the second minute of stoppage time when England's Toone drove the ball forward and unleashed a powerful strike from outside the area into the top corner.
Spurs, playing in their first FA Cup final in what is Swedish coach Robert Vilahamn's debut campaign, drew 2-2 with United in the Women's Super League last month but struggled to create any attacking threat, not registering a single shot on target, and capitulated after the break.
United's Williams, who previously played for Spurs and won the FA Cup with Birmingham City 12 years ago, climbed high to head in a free kick before Garcia pounced on a poor pass in the box from goalkeeper Becky Spencer to make it 3-0 in the 57th minute.
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Garcia added another via a deflection in the 74th as United salvaged a season in which they have struggled, sitting fifth in the league standings after being title challengers last year.
"We don't like to admit it but it does mask over the issues we've had," goalscorer Williams, 36, told the BBC. "We have had some ups and downs this year. That's for Marc (Skinner) and the backroom staff to be like 'right, this is what we have to do in the summer'.
"That's football, teams go through transition. You have a good year, you have a dip. Next year we might just come back bigger, better and stronger and, who knows, we might just be lifting the league."
Man Utd women onto elite status
Manchester United Women can be one of the elite teams in the game with the backing of the club's new owners Ineos, manager Marc Skinner said after they won their first FA Cup on Sunday.
However, the 41-year-old Skinner, who has faced questions over his future, remained upbeat that the FA Cup triumph could be the start of a glittering run.
"It feels like a really positive space to be in. We know as a club we want to be winning titles,” he told a press conference.
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"I’ve just been really excited by the energy that it’s (Ineos investment) driving internally. It won’t be long until we’re talked about in the elite winning (space). I know what’s coming and it’s an exciting time to be a Manchester United fan."
Skinner's contract is due to expire in the close season but the manager has hope he will still be in the dugout come August.
"We have to deliver trophies for an expectant fanbase and our supporters, who are the best in the world. That pressure is a privilege. Today we’ve done that. But there’s so much more to come," he said.
