Category: FA Cup

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FA Cup

Rise, Fall and Rise again of Manchester City in the Women’s FA Cup. 

Joie Stadium | Photo taken from @mancitywomen on X 

Six years on since they last won the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, Manchester City won the trophy again and managed a league double for the first time in their history. Since their last Women’s FA Cup win, they have only returned on one occasion and since then they have failed to return to the home of football. 

2019/20: Winners

Manchester City faced Everton in the final at Wembley which was held behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. After extra time, the Cityzens won 3-1 with goals from Georgia Stanway (111’) and Janine Beckie (now Sonis) (120+2’) in added time. Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, the final was hosted later on in the year in November with the game also being shown on BBC One at the time. 

From the Starting 11, Alex Greenwood is the only one to have stayed with the Sky Blue with many of the squad retiring, have left the league or alternatively moved to a different club in the Women’s Super League. 

Starting 11: Ellie Roebuck, Lucy Bronze, Steph Houghton, Alex Greenwood, Demi Stokes, Sam Mewis, Keira Walsh, Caroline Weir, Chloe Kelly (Janine Beckie 118’), Ellen White (Georgia Stanway 63’), Rose Lavelle (Jess Park 70’). 

Unused Subs: Karen Bardsley, Karima Benameur Taieb, Gemma Bonner, Laura Coombs, Jill Scott, Esme Morgan. 

2020/21: Semi- Finals

Manchester City faced Chelsea in the Semi-final stages at the Joie Stadium (then known as the Academy Stadium) where 1,343 fans saw Chelsea head to the finals. Goals from Erin Cuthbert, Melanie Leupolz and Beth England helped the side head to the finals, with Manchester City bowing out at that stage after winning the previous season. 

An injury hit side saw a change in a number of positions throughout the season with Goalkeeper Grace Pilling involved in the squad. She stayed in and around the first team for the next few seasons (alongside dual-registration at a number of lower-league sides) before heading out to America for College. 

Starting 11: Karima Benameur, Janine Beckie, Demi Stokes, Keira Walsh (Vicky Losada 67’), Jill Scott, Alex Greenwood, Laura Coombs, Caroline Weir, Khadija Shaw (Jess Park 45’), Lauren Hemp.

Unused Subs: Hayley Raso, Filippa Angeldahl, Grace Pilling. 

2021/22: Finalists

Manchester City were in the final again after a year away but faced Chelsea who won the previous year against Arsenal. The game went to extra time and on this occasion, Chelsea got the upper hand in extra time as the side won 3-2. 49.094 fans were in attendance at Wembley (the highest crowd at the time) with goals from Lauren Hemp (42’) and Hayley Raso (89’) helping the side get to extra time. 

The side that headed back to Wembley included a number of new faces who were heading to the home of football for the first time. Meanwhile, several England internationals went to the biggest stage before returning later that year for the Women’s European Championship Final. From the squad that headed down to London, 13 players have since played for England (or were playing at the time for them). 

Starting 11: Ellie Roebuck, Lucy Bronze, Alanna Kennedy, Alex Greenwood, Demi Stokes (Julie Blakstad 83’), Georgia Stanway (Laura Coombs 80’), Keira Walsh (Vicky Losada 119’), Caroline Weir, Chloe Kelly (Hayley Raso 76’), Bunny Shaw (Ellen White 80’), Lauren Hemp.

Unused Subs: Filippa Angeldahl, Jess Park, Ruby Mace, Khiara Keating. 

Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, 2022 | photo taken from @alexgreenwood5 on instagram

2022/23: Quarter-Finals

After their second place the year prior, the side looked to improve that year, but managed to exit in the Quarter-final stages against Aston Villa. After an extra time goal from Rachel Daly, the Cityzens were going backwards since their win in 2020 and becoming finalists the year before. 

The starting 11 that started the game was something Manchester City fans were getting used to as they continued to build on the strong squad as a whole, with substitutes only coming on during Extra-time. Something to note though is the fact that all the unused substitutes have now moved on to different clubs, with many of the starting 11 also doing the same. 

Starting 11: Ellie Roebuck, Esme Morgan, Laia Aleixandri (Laura Coombs 105’), Kerstin Casparij, Alex Greenwood, Yui Hasegawa, Deyna Castellanos (Mary Fowler 105’), Lauren Hemp (Hayley Raso 113’), Chloe Kelly, Filippa Angeldahl, Khadija Shaw. 

Unused Subs: Sandy MacIver, Demi Stokes, Steph Houghton, Leila Ouahabi, Alanna Kennedy, Julie Blakstad. 

2023/24: Quarter-Finals 

For the second time in two seasons, Manchester City bowed out in the Quarter-Final stages as they lost on penalties to the eventual finalists, Tottenham Hotspur. After an early lead from Mary Fowler in the sixth minute, Beth England equalised in the sixth minute of added time with Amy James-Turner getting the deciding penalty in. 

Despite bowing out at the same stage they did the previous season, there was a very similar lineup that was put out apart from the notable absentee of Ellie Roebuck (who later announced she was battling with a left occipital infarct injury). 

Starting 11: Khiara Keating, Kerstin Casparij, Laia Aleixandri, Alex Greenwood, Leila Ouahabi (Esme Morgan 73’), Filippa Angeldahl, Yui Hasegawa, Jess Park (Chloe Kelly 91’), Mary Fowler, Khadija Shaw (Laura Coombs 71’), Lauren Hemp. 

Unused Subs: Demi Stokes, Steph Houghton, Sandy MacIver, Ruby Mace, Alanna Kennedy. 

2024/25: Semi-Finals 

Manchester City returned to the Semi-Final stage in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup but failed to secure their place in the final as their rivals, Manchester United won 2-0. Goals from Celin Bizet and Grace Clinton within the first 22 minutes helped the side secure their third successive final appearance but for Manchester City, it was back to the drawing board. 

After an injury hit season, this game was the same as a very weak bench had two goalkeepers and two youngsters, with two more youngsters starting the game. Gracie Prior played a lot of the season as centre back and played a pivotal role throughout. More injuries came for the side as Mary Fowler ruptured her ACL just 25 minutes in, and returned halfway through the 25/26 season. 

Starting 11: Khiara Keating, Leila Ouahabi, Laia Aleixandri, Gracie Prior, Kerstin Casparij, Yui Hasegawa, Lily Murphy (Laura Wienroither 82’), Laura Coombs, Jess Park, Kerolin, Mary Fowler (Naomi Layzell 25’) 

Unused Subs: Sacha Lewis, Aemu Oyama, Katie Startup, Ayaka Yamashita. 

2025/26: Winners

Manchester City were back to winning ways in the FA Cup this season as they won 4-0 against Brighton. 43,917 fans were in attendance for the final (which was the lowest it has been since 2021) as the side won in the 90 minutes for the first time since 2019. Goals from Bunny Shaw (38’), Alex Greenwood (45+6’), Aoba Fujino (66’) and Vivianne Miedema (87’) helped the side win their first FA Cup since 2020. 

Manchester City got back to the high of 2020 after beating a tricky Chelsea side in the Semi-final. Andrée Jeglertz kept with a very similar side throughout all the campaigns that they competed in with substitutes being used when needed throughout, for freshness. 

Starting 11: Ayaka Yamashita, Kerstin Casparij, Jade Rose, Rebecca Knaak, Alex Greenwood, Laura Blindkilde Brown (Sydney Lohmann 77’), Yui Hasegawa, Kerolin (Aoba Fujino 61’), Grace Clinton (Vivianne Miedema 61’), Lauren Hemp (Mary Fowler 77’), Khadija Shaw (Laura Coombs 85’). 

Unused Subs: Eartha Cumings, Leila Ouahabi, Gracie Prior. 

Categories
FA Cup

Four goal delight as Manchester City secure the double, for the first time 

Manchester City Trophy Lift | photo taken from Charlie Burrell (Shot for Constancy Sport)

Manchester City are the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Winners as goals from Bunny Shaw, Alex Greenwood, Aoba Fujino and Vivianne Miedema helped Manchester City secure the double, for the first time in their history. They won the Women’s Super League earlier on in the month, and with 43,917 fans in attendance at Wembley, Manchester City won the FA Cup for the first time since 2020. 

Brighton had the early chances in the match as both Kiko Seike and Fran Kirby saw their shots either being blocked or over the bar in the first five minutes of the game. The seagulls continued to have majority of the possession throughout the first half as both of Maisie Symonds’ shots were blocked from the Manchester City defence. Brightons’ Kirby and Seike continued to pile on the pressure for the Women’s Super League winners but failed to find the back of the net on both occasions. 

Manchester City’s second shot on goal came from Khadija Shaw as she found a well worked cross from Alex Greenwood, heading it behind Nnadozie and into the back of the net in the 38th minute. This was her 11th headed goal in all competitions this season, becoming the top player from the Women’s Super League.

Seven minutes were added at the end of the first half, where Manchester City capitalised on their lead with the next coming from Alex Greenwood. After a free kick was made just outside of the box due to a foul on Khadija Shaw, it was placed in the perfect area as Greenwood managed to slot it into the bottom right corner just before the break. 

Wembley with Fans | photo taken from Charlie Burrell (Shot for Constancy Sport)

Halftime: Brighton 0-2 Manchester City 

Both teams started off brightly but Manchester City had the upper hand and just 20 minutes after the restart, Aoba Fujino scored after being on the pitch for just five minutes. Her effort was fired into the back of the net after a cross from Bunny Shaw, with her doing the bulk of the work but the Japanese skipped past players and fired it into the back of the net. 

Manchester City continued to pile on the pressure as chances from Aoba Fujino, Bunny Shaw and Jade Rose all had their efforts either saved or over the bar. It was game over in the 87th minute as Vivianne Miedema scored the fourth of the match with Kerstin Casparij finding Vivianne Miedema in the box, and her header was fired into the back of the net. 

Fulltime: Brighton 0-4 Manchester City 

How the teams looked: 

Brighton: Nnadozie, Vanegas, Minami, Symonds © (Rayner 88’), Cankovic, Seike (Kafaji 71’), Kirby (Noordam 80’), Hayes, Olislagers (McLauchlan 79’), Haley, Rule (Mpome 71’). 

Unused Substitutes: Baggaley, Tvedten, Camacho, Tsunoda. 

Manchester City: Yamashita, Rose, Knaak, Greenwood ©, Casparij, Blindkilde Brown (Lohmann 77’), Hasegawa, Hemp (Fowler 77’), Kerolin (Fujino 61’), Clinton (Miedema 61’), Shaw (Coombs 85’). 

Unused Substitutes: Cumings, Ouahabi, Prior, Murphy. 

Yellow Cards: Rebecca Knaak (54’) 

Goals: Khadija Shaw (38’), Alex Greenwood (45+6’), Aoba Fujino (66’), Vivianne Miedema (87’). 

Categories
FA Cup

Adobe Women’s FA Cup Final Match Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester City 

Screenshot

Wembley Stadium Arch | photo taken from @wembleystadium on X

After a two-week break from the Women’s Super League, the biggest game in the calendar returns to Wembley Stadium, rounding off the 2025/26 season. Brighton reached the final for the first time in the club’s history but for Manchester City their last success in the competition was in 2020, and will return to Wembley for the first time in four years. 

Last time they faced each other: 

They faced each other in the Women’s Super League where Brighton won 3-2, ruining the leaders early title celebrations. Goals from Madison Haley and Kiko Seike helped the seagulls get the three points against the eventual winners as Kerolin and Khadija Shaw helped reduce the deficit. 

Starting 11’s from that game: 

Brighton: Nnadozie, Rule, Hayes, Minami, Vanegas, Seike, Cankovic, Symonds, Olislagers, Kirby, Haley. 

Manchester City: Yamashita, Casparij, Rose, Knaak, Greenwood, Blindkilde Brown, Hasegawa, Fujino, Kerolin, Hemp, Shaw. 

Brighton & Hove Albion: 

Last Game in the FA Cup: The Seagulls came from behind against Liverpool, away from home as they won 3-2 with substitute Nadine Noordam scoring the winner in the fifth minute of added time. Liverpool were 2-0 up within 22 minutes with goals from Denise O’Sullivan and Beata Olsson but goals from Manuela Vanegas and Madison Haley helped them get to 2-2. 

Starting 11: Nnadozie, Vanegas, Minami, Hayes, Rule, Olislagers, Cankovic, Symonds, Kirby (Noordam 89’), Seike, Haley. 

Unused Subs: Baggaley, Mpome, Kafaji, Rayner, Tvedten, Camacho, McLauchlan, Tsunoda. 

Form and Route to the FA Cup Final: 

Brighton came in during the fourth round proper, hosting Nottingham Forest from WSL2, winning 2-0 before drawing West Ham United away from home. They then won 2-1 against their WSL oppositions in the fifth round proper, and moved onto the quarter final stages. They then travelled to Arsenal where the home side was expected to win, with Brighton being the underdogs of the fixture. They won 2-0 and were later drawn out against Liverpool.  

Celebrations in the Semi-final versus Liverpool | Photo taken from @bhafcwomen on Instagram

Manchester City: 

Last Game in the FA Cup: Coming from behind against Chelsea, the Cityzens won in extra time after goals from Mary Fowler and Khadija Shaw forced it into an extra 30 minutes. Opening goals from Erin Cuthbert and Sam Kerr forced Manchester City to find goals in hope for a double success, with Khadija Shaw scoring the winner in the 103rd minute. 

Starting 11: Keating, Rose, Greenwood ©, Ouahabi (Fowler 85’), Casparij (Beney 66’), Hasegawa, Blindkilde Brown (Lohmann 99’), Hemp, Clinton (Fujino 66’), Kerolin (Coombs 120+3’), Shaw (Murphy 120+3’). 

Unused Subs: Cumings, Wienroither, Prior. 

Form and Route to the FA Cup Final: 

Manchester City also came in during the fourth round proper where they travelled to AFC Bournemouth from the FAWNL who were having a good run prior. The WSL side won 6-0 and were drawn against WSL2 outfit Sheffield United, in front of their home fans. The side won 4-0 and then was drawn away against another WSL2 side in Birmingham City, winning 1-0 and later playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. 

Grace Clinton in their last FA Cup clash versus Chelsea | Photo taken from @mancitywomen on Instagram

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FA Cup WSL

MANCHESTER CITY SECURE WSL TITLE AND FA CUP FINAL SPOT IN SAME WEEK.

PHOTO: MANCITY.COM

Manchester City have had quite the week!

Wednesday night, following Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion, the Citizens were crowned champions for the first time in a decade.

Manchester City have been nothing short of ruthless this season, demolishing holders Chelsea 5-1 at the Etihad; a late winner from Iman Beney against Arsenal in October sent them well on their way in the quest for the title.

Knowing they couldn’t do anything to affect the outcome of the Arsenal games, Manchester City had to win against Liverpool on the Sunday before. In a tense game, in which Taylor’s Liverpool defended well, Manchester City eventually found their breakthrough.

In the first minute of added time, Rebecca Knaak was the hero as her diving header snuck into the bottom left corner past Jen Falk, sparking wild celebrations from the City fans and players alike.

Following their title victory, the Citizens faced a tough test away at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup semi-finals, facing holders Chelsea.

Chelsea found their breakthrough in the 8th minute when a low-driven shot from Erin Cuthbert took a deflection before hitting the back of the net. This would be the only goal until after the half-time break. Sam Kerr doubled the lead for the Blues on 59 minutes, further plunging City’s hopes of an FA Cup final in doubt.

Mary Fowler sparked the comeback with a wonderful low-driven strike on 85 minutes, sparking City into life once again. With 7 minutes of additional time Manchester City sensed they could make a comeback.

With momentum shifting, who else but Bunny Shaw to strike home City’s second once again in added time at 90+1 to spark huge celebrations and send the game to extra time?

In the first half of added time, Hampton attempted to take a goal kick quickly. However, the misplaced pass was picked up and intercepted by Yui Hasegawa, and a wonderful ball met the head of Bunny Shaw once again, who nodded City into the lead for the first time of the afternoon.

As the final whistle went, City players, led by their skipper Alex Greenwood, made a beeline straight to their fans and, in incredible scenes, danced around with manager Andree Jeglertz, who has yet again created more history by leading City to their first FA Cup final in four years.

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FA Cup

Heartbreak for Addicks as Shaw Strikes Late in FA Cup Quarter Final

Photo: @Islasmithmedia for ConstancySport

Starting Lineups:

Charlton Athletic

Sophie Whitehouse (C) (GK), Charlotte Newsham, Elisha N’Dow, Gracie Pearse, Katie Bradley, 

Lucy Fitzgerald, Mia Enderby, Karin Muya, Gloria Siber, Amalie Thestrup, Lucia Lobato, Keira Flannery 

 Liverpool

Jennifer Falk (GK), Gemma Evans, Denise O’Sullivan, Cornelia Kapocs, Fuka Nagano, Mia Enderby, Lily Woodham, Jenna Clark (C), Kirsty MacLean, Alice Bergstrom, Aurelie Csillag

Used Subs:

Charlton Athletic

Mia Ross, Gillian Kenney, Katie Lockwood, Ellie Mason, Emma Bissell, Gracie Pearse

Liverpool

Beata Olsson, Alejandra Bernabe, Martha Thomas, Risa Shimizu, Zara Shaw

Kick off at The Valley started with Charlton Athletic, trying to keep possession, but it was met with Liverpool’s early pressure. 

Soon in, we saw a header from Mia Enderby tipped over the bar by Sophie Whitehouse. Corner for giving a corner to the Reds. This was taken by Lily Woodham, punched away by Whitehouse and collectedby the keeper. 

Charlton had a couple of chances from Karin Muya and Amalie Thestrup, but Liverpool kept maintaining possession leaaving the Addicks no time on the ball. While their possession is high theyre not taking many chances. 

Liverpool continued to hunt for a breakthrough via the flanks, with Lily Woodham’s dangerous deliveries forcing a strong clearance from Gloria Siber before finding the head of Mia Enderby, who steered her effort just over the bar. Despite Karin Muya providing a spark for Charlton on the right, Liverpool’s pressure remained constant as Alice Bergstrom and Fuka Nagano both saw late crosses and shots sail off-target

With 1 minute of injury time added after the first half, neither side was able to get on the scoresheet.

Soon into the second half, we saw a triple change for both sides, starting with Charlton, seeing Mia Ross, Gillian Kenney and Katie Lockwood coming on for Karin Muya, Amalie Thestrup and Katie Bradley. For Liverpool, seeing Beata Olsson, Alejandra Bernabe and Martha Thomas coming on for Lily Woodham, Aurelie Csillag and Denise O’Sullivan. 

Once the new substitutions came on, it was a battle down the side from Mia Enderby and Mia Ross, with Ross getting a booking for a foul on the forward. A free kick is given just outside the box on the right.  Taken by Cornelia Kapocs, it was sent to the back post, but couldn’t connect with anyone, seeing it out. 

Substitutions for both teams saw Charlotte Newsham leave the pitch and Ellie Mason come on for Charlton. Additionally, Alice Bergstrom comes off for Risa Shimizu for Liverpool. 

Mia Enderby, on the right, sends a ball to Martha Thomas whos in the middle of the box. It looks like a shot towards the bottom right corner, but Beata Olsson backheels it, with it ending up in the bottom left. Unfortunately, Olsson was offside, so the goal didn’t stand. 

Seems like Charlton can’t get out of their own half. They’re putting all of their bodies behind the ball to defend, so they can’t move up the pitch quickly enough when they get a chance to counterattack. 

The physical intensity of the match boiled over when Elisha N’dow and Martha Thomas collided, resulting in a yellow card for the Charlton defender and a brief pause in play as physios were called on to treat her.

Substitutions for Charlton see Keira Flannery coming off for Emma Bissell. 

After 7 minutes of scrappy added time, the full-time whistle goes, and it’s 0-0. At the Valley. Into extra time. 

After a tough afternoon battling with Mia Enderby, Gracie Pearse leaves the pitch, with Mary McAteer coming on to replace her. 

Zara Shaw makes her comeback for the Reds, coming on for Mia Enderby. She’s been out for just under a year after tearing her ACL in April 2025 while on international duty for the England under-19s. 

Charlton is given a Goal Kick after a shot from the Reds. Goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse takes her time with this and receives a booking for time-wasting. 

Kapocs takes the corner, sending it into the 10-year box. It’s headed away by the Addicks, in again, off the crossbar and brought down. Then shot into the back of the net by Zara Shaw. With 5 minutes to go its  Charlton Athletic 0-1 Liverpool. 

1 minute of added time is given, but it isn’t enough for the Addicks to turn it around. At the end of Extra Time, it is Charlton Athletic 0 – 1 Liverpool. 

The drama on the pitch was matched by the significance of the crowd in the stands. A total of 2,164 fans watched on – the highest attendance for a women’s fixture at The Valley in over 20 years. In a week where the club hoped for a record-breaking turnout, the SE7 faithful delivered, creating an atmosphere that pushed both sides through 120 minutes.