A wonderstrike from Ella Toone and Lucia Garcia’s double helped Manchester United to their first ever Adobe Women’s FA Cup triumph with a 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Sunday.
Last season’s beaten finalists banished memories of that loss in empathic fashion in front of 76 082 fans, Toone breaking the deadlock in stunning style in added time at the end of the first half.
Rachel Williams’ header doubled the advantage before Garcia’s quickfire brace settled the outcome in favour of Marc Skinner’s side.
Manchester United looked immediately at home in the showpiece, Leah Galton testing Spurs keeper Rebecca Spencer with a close range effort early on during an energetic opening period.
Katie Zelem proved dangerous from set-pieces and regularly provided her side with opportunities throughout the first half.
Her pinpoint deliveries gave both Rachel Williams and Garcia chances to open the scoring although stubborn defence kept the sides level.
Tottenham’s best chance of the half came on the counter as Ashleigh Neville found Matilda Vinberg in space at the back post but the winger couldn’t keep her header down and test Mary Earps in goal.
As the half continued it was United who began to create the better chances. Toone was able to get a shot away following a break made by Garcia and Williams, while another incisive corner was kept out after an impressive block from Martha Thomas.
It took a moment of magic from Toone to open the scoring deep into first-half injury time. A driving Lisa Naalsund run began the rapid United breakaway before Toone evaded the chasing defenders and curled a strike into the top corner from 25 yards out.
After the break, United’s set-piece finally brought results. A looping ball from Zelem found Williams, the competition’s top goal scorer, who leapt highest at the back post to double her side's lead.
United were then able to put one hand on the trophy after Garcia pounced on an error from Spurs keeper Spencer to tap home and put daylight between the sides.
A mis-hit clearance from the goalkeeper landed right at the feet of the striker, who was left with an easy finish to make the score 3-0.
Tottenham had chances to pull a goal back, with Bethany England’s header hitting the bar in the 66th minute the closest they came.
However, United continued to grow in confidence and put the result beyond doubt when Naalsund found Garcia in the penalty area with enough time to pick her spot for her second of the afternoon.
England had another chance to score a consolation for Tottenham in the closing stages but the opportunity was blocked by Mannion as Manchester United closed out a dominant performance with a clean sheet.
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