Manchester United win first-ever Women’s FA Cup with 4-0 victory over Tottenham

Manchester United's English midfielder #07 Ella Toone (C) celebrates with teammates celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the English Women's FA Cup final football match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium, in north west London, on May 12, 2024. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
By Luke Bosher
May 12, 2024

Manchester United have won their first-ever FA Cup after beating Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday’s final.

The first half was relatively even before England international Ella Toone opened the scoring with a superb effort from distance shortly before half-time.

United then started the second half the better side and doubled their lead through striker Rachel Williams, who headed home from a deep Katie Zelem free kick in the 54th minute.

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Tottenham goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer then gifted United a third three minutes later, passing the ball straight to Lucia Garcia who calmly slotted the ball into the empty net.

Spurs may have had a route back into the game had Bethany England’s luck been in — the former Chelsea forward struck the bar with a header from an Amanda Nilden cross in the 66th minute, which was the closest the north London side came to scoring.

Garcia then scored her second and United’s fourth eight minutes later, finishing on her left foot after Millie Turner laid the ball back to the Spaniard in the box.

Neither United nor Spurs had won an FA Cup before Sunday’s game, with this final breaking the run of Arsenal, Manchester City or Chelsea winning the competition each year since 2013.

United co-owner Avram Glazer was at a sold-out Wembley Stadium for the final, while minority investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe was instead at Old Trafford to watch the men’s side host Arsenal in the Premier League.

England head coach Sarina Wiegman and assistant Arjan Veurink were also present, ahead of this week’s squad announcement for the post-season Euro 2025 qualifiers.

Tottenham return to Women’s Super League action on Wednesday when they host title-chasing Chelsea. United then welcome Chelsea to Leigh Sports Village — in what will be Emma Hayes’ final game in charge of the west London side before she takes over at the United States women’s team — as Spurs host West Ham.

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

'Manchester United are only a young club in the women's game - trophies will come'

(Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)

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Luke Bosher

Luke Bosher is a deputy news editor for The Athletic, based in London. He joined the company in 2020. Follow Luke on Twitter @bosherL