Chelsea and Manchester United will be looking to create further history and end their season’s on a high note when they go head to head at Wembley Stadium on Sunday in the 55th Women’s FA Cup Final.
The match is a repeat of the 2023 Final, which saw Chelsea secure a third successive title with a 1-0 victory. However, United are the holders having beaten Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 in last year’s showpiece.
While United will be looking to retain the trophy to add to their Champions League qualification after finishing third in the Women’s Super League, Chelsea are aiming to complete a domestic treble having already won the WSL and Women’s League Cup.
Routes to the Final
Both sides entered the competition in the Fourth Round, where United began their defence of the trophy with a 7-0 thrashing of Women’s National League North side West Bromwich Albion, while Chelsea faced Women’s Championship opposition in Charlton Athletic and ran out 4-0 winners.
Round Five saw Chelsea have to come from behind against Everton before eventually running out comfortable 4-1 winners. United travelled to the Midlands to face another Tier 3 side in Wolverhampton Wanderers, eventually gaining a 6-0 win.
The Quarter-Finals saw both sides pushed closer. Lauren James got the only goal of the game for Chelsea as they edged out Women’s Super League strugglers Crystal Palace, while it took a stoppage time goal from Ella Toone to eventually break Sunderland’s resistance and secure a 3-1 win for United.
In the semi-finals Chelsea experienced deja vu as they again had to come from behind against Merseyside opposition, this time Liverpool. Eventually Aggie Beever-Jones’ 94th minute goal saw the Blues into their fourth final in five years. United gained derby bragging rights for the second time this season as they won 2-0 at City.
Previous Meetings
The two sides have met twice so far this season, with Chelsea emerging victorious on both occasions in a 1-0 victory. The first meeting at Kingsmeadow in November was settled thanks to Guro Reiten’s 17th minute penalty.
Last month’s reverse fixture at Leigh Sports Village was an equally close encounter but Lucy Bronze’s header from a corner proved to be the difference and gave Sonia Bompastor’s side the win they needed to clinch the title.
This is the third season running the two sides have met in the FA Cup. Whilst Chelsea won the 2023 Final, last season’s semi-final saw United hold firm in the second half to secure a 2-1 win in their first, and to date only, victory in this fixture.
Key Team News
Speaking to the media ahead of the final, Manchester United manager Marc Skinner has confirmed that full-back Jayde Riviere will miss the final following the ankle injury picked up in the Manchester derby.
Riviere aside, United have a fully fit squad to choose from. Grace Clinton will be hoping to feature after being ineligible for last season’s final as she was on loan at Tottenham. Skinner also revealed the club after negotiating a new contract for veteran forward Rachel Williams.
In her own pre-match press conference, Bompastor said that completing the Treble would be the perfect way to end what has already been a historic season for the club, but emphasised the importance of preparation. She did not report any new injury issues
Prediction
Chelsea will undoubtedly be favourites as they are unbeaten domestically all season, their only defeats coming in the Champions League semi-finals to Barcelona. In addition they have already beaten United twice during the current season.
However, whilst Chelsea have dominated the rivalry over the years, the two meetings between them this season were closer than many have been in the past. In addition, United are no strangers to the big occasion thanks to two previous finals.
Not only that, but thanks to the victory over Spurs 12 months ago they now know what it takes to win a game of this magnitude.