Ahead of yesterday’s FA Cup final, Everton headed to Wembley Stadium with hopes of claiming their first Cup in 10 years. The Toffees last raised the cup after a shocking win against Arsenal in 2010. Since then the team has only managed to qualify for the finals once more losing to Arsenal in 2014. Unfortunately, yesterday was not the day they’d been waiting for. After a relatively balanced game reigning champions, Manchester City successfully defended their title in a 3-1 win.
Sandy Maclver Saves The Day
Everton had several attempts within the first half. Australian international Hayley Raso nearly scored the first goal of the game before being stopped by a risky challenge from the City’s newest star Lucy Bronze. (Who recently joined the team after three years with one of Euro’s top teams Olympique Lyon). Several opportunities followed but with missed passes to misaimed headers, the citizens were able to maintain possession.
It was the performance of 22-year-old goalkeeper Sandy Maclver, in her first year with Everton, that kept the team afloat for the majority of the match. Maclver was able to make two impressive saves throughout the first half before USWNT middie Sam Mewis slipped in a header bringing the score to 1-0 in the last five minutes. Despite not being able to walk away with the cup Maclver earned herself the Player Of The Match award. As well as gaining the attention of several members of England’s National Team. Many of whom believe the rookie could be on the track to being England’s next No. 1 keeper in the coming years.
She continued to showcase her skills early in the second half with an impressive double save. Shortly after Manchester goalkeeper, Ellie Roebuck saw her first real action of the match, making a one-handed save to keep Everton at zero. But was not able to stop Valérie Gauvin’s seemingly unintentional header, minutes later, which brought the score to 1-1.
The Georgia Stanway Effect
But the gameplay took a complete turn when the City subbed in England International Georgia Stanway late in the second half. And with the entrance of Stanway came several dangerous situations for the Toffees with Stanway making a close shot just seconds after joining the game. This was followed by Mewis and Kelley making some failed attempts to bend the ball just under the net. Weir followed up with two chances one of which hit the crossbar and another that soared right over the goal. Despite the fact that none of these attempts came to fruition they put pressure on Everton’s backline that continued into overtime.
The first additional 15 minutes saw several attempts from both teams none of which seemed too promising. With some impressive defending from Megan Finnigan, and a close call from Houghton that Maclver was barely able to get a touch on forcing the ball to deflect off the post.
It was in the second portion of added time that things really started to pick up. In the 111th minute, Stanway fired a shot that was blocked by an impressive dive but unintentionally knocked to Bronze. Who then found Jess Park on the wing, who returned the ball to Stanway. Who made a run in between Everton’s defense, hitting the inside of the post, and sending the ball spiraling in.
Manchester’s third and final goal came off of a last-minute free-kick. Which forced Everton to push forward leaving open space for in the 18 for Janine Beckie. Who was able to roll the ball past Maclver and into the goal just before the final whistle.
With this Manchester City was able to win their third FA Cup mirroring their 2017 and 2019 success.
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