Chelsea 3-0 Manchester United: Blues complete unbeaten domestic treble with Women’s FA Cup win at Wembley | OneFootball

Chelsea have lifted the 2024/25 Adobe Women’s FA Cup after claiming a 3-0 win over Manchester United in the final on Sunday afternoon.

Sonia Bompastor’s side, who have now completed an unbeaten domestic season as a result, took the lead late in the first half through a Sandy Baltimore penalty.

Baltimore turned provider as The Blues doubled their advantage inside the final ten minutes, with her free-kick nodded home by substitute Catarina Macário, before the French international completed her brace with a close-range finish inside stoppage time.

Manchester United could still pick up silverware this season, as their attention now turns to the first-ever World Sevens Football tournament, held in Portugal from 21-23 May.

As it happened

When Grace Clinton found space inside the box to take a shot in the opening five minutes on Sunday afternoon, Manchester United looked to have taken a step towards defending their Adobe Women’s FA Cup title following last year’s 4-0 drubbing of Spurs.

But the 22-year-old – who was cup-tied for that final after spending the season on loan with The Lilywhites – sent her dinked shot wide of the post, and it quickly became apparent that chances would be few and far between for United.

Chelsea grew into the match as it developed and quickly became the dominant side, with Aggie Beever-Jones looking particularly lively out on the right flank. The 21-year-old could have clinched the opener with a deflected strike in the 16th minute, though a fine save from Phallon Tullis-Joyce ensured the deadlock remained.

The Red Devils threatened to snatch the lead soon after when Nathalie Björn’s attempted clearance fell sweetly for Dominique Janssen on the edge of the box, but the Dutch international could only watch and wince as her thundered strike flew over the crossbar.

It would prove to be their last opportunity of note in the first half, as Chelsea became increasingly comfortable and forced a further two incredible saves from Tullis-Joyce. First, the USA international prevailed in a goalmouth scramble before denying a curling Beever-Jones effort destined for the far post.

Sonia Bompastor’s side took the first concrete step towards lifting the Adobe Women’s FA Cup trophy in the final minute of the half, when Erin Cuthbert was hacked down inside the box by Celin Bizet. Referee Stacey Fullicks wasted no time awarding a penalty, which was duly despatched by Sandy Baltimore.

Chelsea’s confidence grew throughout the second half and after a flurry of missed chances, including an effort sent wide by Catarina Macário and a shot fired over the crossbar by Beever-Jones, The Blues were able to double their lead inside the final ten minutes.

Macário made amends for her earlier miss when she connected with Baltimore’s free-kick delivery from the right, and while that seemingly had wrapped up Chelsea’s third trophy of the season, the announcement of ten minutes of stoppage time would have made some fans uneasy.

But their nerves were quickly settled when Baltimore – having already bagged a goal and an assist – turned home Chelsea’s third of the afternoon with a lovely finish from inside the box.

Despite heartbreak at Wembley, Manchester United could yet lift silverware this season, with The Red Devils heading to Portugal this week to compete in the first-ever World Sevens Tournament. The winners of the eight-team tournament will walk away with $2.5m [£1.9m].

The lineups

CHE: Hampton; Bronze, Bright, Girma, Charles; Walsh, Björn; Beever-Jones, Cuthbert; Baltimore; Ramírez

MUN: Tullis-Joyce; Mannion, Le Tissier, Turner, George; Miyazawa, Janssen; Bizet, Clinton, Galton; Terland