Adam Mitten

Manchester United won their first FA Cup with a 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the 2024 final at a sold-out Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

United were playing in the second successive final whilst it was the first for Spurs but goals from Ella Toone, Rachel Williams and a brace from Lucia Garcia saw the Red Devils take the trophy back to the red side of Manchester for the first time.

On a very hot afternoon at Wembley, Matilda Vinberg had the first effort of the match in the 2nd minute for Spurs when she cut in from the left side but sent her shot from 20-yards over the bar.

There was an amazing noise inside the stadium from both sets of fans, and United immediately had their first opportunity when Leah Galton was played in by Toone but Rebecca Spencer got down to save with her legs whilst getting injured in process.  Williams headed the resulting corner over.

After that frantic start, the match settled down a bit for a bit.  In the 13th minute, Williams headed wide another corner as the Red Devils went close to taking the lead. 

Tottenham then had a good opportunity of their own but Vinberg headed wide at the far post.

Another United corner in the 19th minute again caused problems with Millie Turner heading the ball back and Garcia nodding over, whilst under pressure from Eveliina Summanen, from close-range.

Due to the temperature, there was a water break midway through both halves.  Straight after that, Garcia’s cross from the right was headed back by Toone but Williams put the ball over from 6-yards.

In the 34th minute, a Manchester United corner was met by Turner but her effort was blocked by Martha Thomas before Spurs cleared the ball.  Jayde Riviere then got forward on the right but sent her cross onto the roof of the net.  

Toone then sent her strike from 12-yards wide in the 39th minute.  Maya Le Tissier shot over from distance in the final minute of the half as the Red Devils continued to create more of the chances.

In the third minute of first half stoppage time, United took the lead when Toone picked the ball up on the halfway line and was allowed to run forward before smashing a tremendous shot into the top corner from 20-yards.

Manchester United doubled their lead in the 54th minute when Katie Zelem’s free kick was headed in by Williams.

Two minutes later, Spurs had their first opportunity of the half but Bethany England blazed over from just outside the area.

Garcia scored United’s third in the 58th minute when Spencer passed straight to her whilst trying to play out from the back and she finished into an empty net from close range.

Toone shot straight at Spencer in the 62nd minute. 

In the 66th minute, England went close to getting a goal back for Tottenham but her powerful header came back off the crossbar before the rebound was put wide.

A delightful through ball found second half substitute Melvine Malard but she was denied by Spencer in the 72nd minute.

Garcia scored her second of the match and United’s fourth two minutes later when Lisa Naalsund laid the ball off to her and she finished via a slight deflection.

Naalsund put a shot over for Manchester United as they looked to extend their lead further.

Spurs’ England saw an effort blocked by the head of Aoife Mannion as the second half entered stoppage time, whilst at the other end Geyse had a strike blocked.

There weren’t any further chances for either side before the Red Devils players and their fans could start celebrating winning their first trophy.

Line-ups

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Earps, Riviere (Mannion 78’), Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell, Zelem (c), Naalsund, Garcia (Geyse 77’), Toone (Miyazawa 78’), Galton (Malard 50’), Williams (Parris 58’)

Unused substitutes: Tullis-Joyce, Evans, Irene, Ladd

Goals – Toone 45’+3, Williams 54’, Garcia 57’, 74’

Booked - Blundell

Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Spencer, Neville, James-Turner, Buhler, Nilden (Grant 68’), Spence, Summanen (Graham 68’), Naz (Bizet 54’), England (c), Vinberg (Wang 54’), Thomas (Ayane 68’)

Unused substitutes: Votikova, Bartrip, Petzelberger, Ahtinen

Referee – Abi Byrne

Attendance – 76,082