Everton 1-3 Manchester City
Extra-time goals from Georgia Stanway and Janine Beckie seal a second consecutive Vitality Women's FA Cup triumph for City
Super-subs Georgia Stanway and Janine Beckie fired Manchester City to their second consecutive Vitality Women’s FA Cup title after a thrilling final against Everton at Wembley.
The absorbing contest looked destined to be heading for penalties but Stanway, introduced in the second half by manager Gareth Taylor, prodded home before extra-time substitute Beckie coolly slotted a low finish past impressive Toffees goalkeeper Sandy MacIver.
Sam Mewis had powerfully headed the defending champions in front before Valerie Gauvin, a threat to City throughout, levelled after the interval.
An enthralling second half ensued and while MacIver kept her side in it with a string of fine saves, England international Stanway - who also scored in last season's final against West Ham - and then Beckie, pounced to scoop more silverware for City.
The holders came out of the blocks the quicker at the national stadium, with Chloe Kelly and Caroline Weir looking dangerous throughout the early stages.
But it was Willie Kirk's side who created the first major opening as Hayley Raso surged clear before being brought down by England right-back Lucy Bronze, who was booked by referee Rebecca Welch.
Damaris Egurrola fired over after a brief scramble from the resulting free-kick before the lively Kelly forced MacIver into a smart save at the other end.
Taylor’s team established a firm grip on the game as the first half progressed, with the midfield trio of Mewis, Keira Walsh and Weir linking up fluently.
And the breakthrough came just five minutes before the break as Alex Greenwood’s menacing corner was met decisively by Mewis, who towered over the Everton defence to plant a fine header into the roof of the net.
Everton finished the opening period strongly and went close to breaching the City defence on the stroke of half time, but Gauvin was thwarted by a firm tackle from Steph Houghton.
The City captain caught the French striker in her follow through but Gauvin battled on after the interval in a second half that established a similar pattern to the first.
And the holders were only denied a second goal by a combination of a Wembley post and a stunning MacIver save, as Weir’s shot hit the woodwork before Kelly’s follow-up was brilliantly repelled by the Toffees stopper.
City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck then produced a fine save of her own and the equaliser came from the resulting corner, as Gauvin - playing on after that first-half injury - nodded home Izzy Christiansen’s delivery.
Taylor’s team looked shaky against the aerial ball and Everton soon went close to taking the lead, as Gauvin headed Nicoline Sorensen’s cross wide before Stanway’s shot then whistled past MacIver’s post.
Kelly and Weir then missed golden opportunities to win the contest in injury time, both blazing over from close range before Weir hit the crossbar with a curling shot following a fluid move.
Both sides pressed for the all-important winner throughout extra time and it was only heroic defending from Megan Finnigan that prevented Stanway snatching it in the first half, clearing her lines after the second-half substitute had dribbled past MacIver.
MacIver then saved Everton once again as she brilliantly tipped Houghton’s powerful header onto the post.
Penalties were looming as extra time went on but then came Stanway with under ten minutes remaining, smartly latching on to Jess Park’s through ball to break Everton hearts.
And fellow substitute Beckie then calmly finished past player of the match MacIver to finish the job and seal City's second consecutive Cup title in style.
Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor said: "I feel a whole mixture of emotions today, it's crazy.
"We dominated huge portions of the game. It was always tight. I still felt comfortable at 1-1. If we kept sticking to our principles I knew we'd be okay.
"I'm super proud of the players and this builds us a great platform. We just needed to improve our quality in the final third. But look, the emotions are high, it was about winning today.
"New manager, new players, and it takes time. We'll get there, but this is great."
Everton boss Willie Kirk said: "First of all I'm immensely proud of the players, the staff and everything that went into the preparations for the final.
"Unfortunately someone's got to lose today. We matched them all the way into extra time and even created chances up until the final whistle.
"City are deserved winners, but they had to be deserved winners because we pushed them hard.
"They had that little edge."
Everton (4-2-3-1): 1 Sandy MacIver; 2 Ingrid Moe Wold, 20 Megan Finnigan, 22 Rikke Sevecke, 3 Danielle Turner; 17 Lucy Graham, 12 Damaris Egurrola; 16 Hayley Raso, 8 Izzy Christiansen, 14 Nicoline Sorensen; 19 Valerie Gauvin
Substitutes: 7 Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah for Raso 76’, 15 Molly Pike for Graham 90’, 30 Poppy Pattinson for Sevecke 90’, 10 Simone Magill for Gauvin 90', 13 Abbey-Leigh Stringer for Egurrola 99’
Substitutes not used: 23 Tinja-Riikka Korpela, 21 Maeva Clemaron, 26 Grace Clinton
Yellow cards: Raso 25’
Goals: Gauvin 60’
Manchester City (4-3-3): 26 Ellie Roebuck; 20 Lucy Bronze, 6 Steph Houghton, 27 Alex Greenwood, 3 Demi Stokes; 22 Sam Mewis, 24 Keira Walsh, 19 Caroline Weir; 9 Chloe Kelly, 18 Ellen White, 21 Rose Lavelle
Substitutes: 10 Georgia Stanway for White 63’, 16 Jess Park for Lavelle 70’, 11 Janine Beckie for Kelly 118’
Substitutes not used: 1 Karen Bardsley, 34 Karima Benameur Taieb, 4 Gemma Bonner, 7 Laura Coombs, 8 Jill Scott, 14 Esme Morgan
Goals: Mewis 40’, Stanway 111’, Beckie 120'
Yellow cards: Bronze 16’, Stanway 82’
Referee: Rebecca Welch