Manchester City thumped Brighton to win their first FA Cup final in six years and clinch a domestic double.
Goals from Bunny Shaw, Alex Greenwood, Aoba Fujino and substitute Vivianne Miedema sealed a resounding victory for the WSL champions, who only a few weeks ago secured their first league title in a decade.
Brighton were by far the better side in the opening half-hour, with the remnants of City’s title celebrations – including the relief of Shaw sensationally announcing she would be staying for the next four years – still lingering.
Yet it was Shaw’s intervention in the 30th minute, rising highest to get City up and running, that shifted the momentum and set them on course for their first FA Cup triumph in six years.
The Jamaican was subsequently involved in City’s next two goals either side of half-time. That is, quite simply, why they pay her the big bucks.
As for Brighton, although they arrived as heavy underdogs, they played with intensity and courage and were worthy finalists. This was their first appearance in the showpiece, and the immensity of the occasion appeared to tell as they struggled to convert their early chances.
They were ultimately punished, particularly in the second half, as City’s squad depth proved decisive against a Brighton side who had beaten them in the WSL only last month.
The Seagulls made the brighter start. Matildas defender Charlize Rule threaded a fine pass through the lines towards Kiko Seike, who delivered into the box; after a ricochet off a City player, the ball fell to Fran Kirby.
City’s squad depth proved decisive against a Brighton side who had beaten them in the WSL only last month
Shaw sensationally announced earlier this week that she would be staying for another four years – after a new contract was signed at the 11th hour
Kirby could not generate enough power to trouble the goal, and City scrambled clear.
Moments later, Madison Haley capitalised on slack defending from a tepid back pass but was brought down by a scrambling Ayaka Yamashita.
Had the incident occurred a moment later, VAR would almost certainly have intervened; as it was, play continued. Yamashita, however, took several minutes to recover from the heavy collision.
Brighton continued to threaten, catching out City’s high line as four players surged towards goal, but captain Maisie Symonds opted to shoot from 25 yards, and the chance went begging.
The Seagulls came again. The ball dropped to Kirby once more, her effort was parried away, and Seike blazed the rebound over the bar.
By the half-hour mark, Brighton had spurned six opportunities, with only one on target.
A few minutes later, Shaw slipped the ball through to Clinton, who could only muster a tame effort. Shaw then tried her luck herself moments later.
On the touchline, Andree Jeglertz had at last seen signs of life from his side. City had finally stirred.
Greenwood delivered a cross and Shaw rose above the defence, heading through Chiamaka Nnadozie’s hands and into the net.
Shaw was then adjudged to have been brought down on the edge of the penalty area. Greenwood, City’s set-piece specialist, might have felt the angle was too central to generate sufficient whip.
It made no difference. The two-time European champion dispatched a low, bending effort into the bottom right-hand corner.
She sprinted half the length of the pitch to embrace goalkeeping coach and set-piece coach Diego Restrepo.
Later, Shaw surged down the wing and squared unselfishly. Fujino cut inside onto her left foot; although the chance appeared to have gone, she found a gap and squeezed the ball past Nnadozie.
Late in the second half, Nnadozie tipped another effort over the bar – her final intervention before being substituted.
Substitute Miedema then capped off the perfect afternoon, heading home for the fourth.
It was a fairytale end to a perfect season for City.
