GEORGIA STANWAY continued her Wembley love affair as Manchester City clinched FA Cup victory over Everton.
It may have taken extra time for Gareth Taylor’s side to claim yet another big scalp at the national stadium – but they have now lifted silverware for a second year in a row.
Manchester City are the slide rulers of Wembley as they enjoy extra-time victory over Everton in the Women’s FA Cup final Credit: PA:Press Association
Janine Beckie strikes with the last touch of the contest to confirm Man City’s second FA Cup final win in two yearsCredit: Reuters
Georgia Stanway keeps her cool for the crucial breakthrough in extra timeCredit: PA:Press Association
It was appropriate that Stanway, who scored for City in the last FA Cup final, held her nerve to snatch the winner when a penalty shootout had been looming.
The Barrow-born 21-year-old, who came on in the 63rd minute, also teed up Janine Beckie to net City’s third goal with the last kick of the game.
It was Sam Mewis who got Taylor’s side on their way after she rose highest to head home an inch-perfect corner from Alex Greenwood, before Valerie Gauvin clawed back the equaliser after the break.
The Merseysiders almost suffered a major blow when the strike sensation had gingerly limped off the pitch after being mowed down by Houghton on the stroke of half-time.
The French star was back on with heavy knee strapping and missing a yard of her electric pace, but just when you thought she was down and out she got the Toffees back in it.
Cue mayhem on the Everton bench after she nodded home Izzy Christiansen’s corner on 60 minutes.
Merseyside keeper Sandy MacIver was the deserved woman of the match after making three genuine world-class stops to deny the opposition.
But slowly, surely, steadily, City first established a foothold, then a gradual dominance.
They just needed a sniff of goal – which arrived from Stanway and then Beckie in the dying moments.
Everton’s French forward Valerie Gauvin is pumped up after her equaliser but heartbreak was to follow in the added half-hour Credit: Reuters
Man City skipper Steph Houghton holds aloft the Women’s FA Cup after the 3-1 extra-time success over WSL rivals EvertonCredit: Getty – Pool
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
