Holders Manchester City beat a battling Everton 3-1 after extra-time at Wembley to win the 50th Women’s FA Cup final.
Goals in the second half of extra-time from substitutes Georgia Stanway and Janine Beckie secured City a third FA Cup win in four seasons.
Everton had forced another 30 minutes after Valerie Gauvin cancelled out Sam Mewis’ opener, but they were beaten on their maiden Wembley appearance despite an impressive display from goalkeeper Sandy MacIver.
GOAL!@ManCityWomen take the lead again!
Jess Park beautifully sets up @StanwayGeorgia who gets the vital touch. Will that be the winner?!#WomensFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/3UQRiXebqG— Vitality Women's FA Cup (@VitalityWFACup) November 1, 2020
Advertisement
Gareth Taylor’s side took the lead five minutes before half-time when Alex Greenwood’s corner was headed in by United States international Mewis.
City should have doubled their lead in the 54th minute but Caroline Weir’s shot cannoned off a post and MacIver brilliantly denied Kelly from the rebound.
Everton equalised on the hour mark when Izzy Christiansen’s corner was nodded in at the near post by Gauvin.
EQUALISER!
It had to be @GauvinValerie!
The striker was close to being taken off due to injury, but she’s got @EvertonWomen back in it 💪#WomensFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/nMrwbMAtai— Vitality Women's FA Cup (@VitalityWFACup) November 1, 2020
Advertisement
Weir had two chances to win it for City in the closing stages but she snatched at the first and blazed over before a curled effort came back off the crossbar.
MacIver denied Stanway and Steph Houghton in extra-time but the resistance was broken with nine minutes remaining when Stanway squeezed the ball past MacIver’s near post after being played in by fellow substitute Jess Park.
Everton threw everything into the closing stages but City added gloss when Stanway slid in Janine Beckie to slot home with the final kick of the game.
