On Sunday (14th May 2023), holders Chelsea will face off against first-time finalists Manchester United in the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley. Both teams have their sights set on securing the first leg of a domestic double.
Chelsea has won the competition four times in the last six years and is looking for another victory at a sold-out Wembley.
Meanwhile, Manchester United is on the verge of winning their first major trophy since their reformation in 2018, having earned promotion to the Women’s Super League (WSL).
As the top two teams in the WSL, the winner of the FA Cup final will be well-positioned to pursue a double. But the road to the final has not been without its challenges.
Manchester United may have had a relatively favorable route to the final, but they have also made things unnecessarily difficult for themselves at times.
In their semi-final clash with Brighton, goalkeeper Mary Earps put the ball into her own net, giving Brighton an early lead.
However, Leah Galton and Alessia Russo managed to turn the game around with two goals at the hour mark.
Even then, Manchester United allowed Danielle Carter to equalize in the 75th minute, leading to a tense finale that was ultimately decided by Rachel Williams’ 89th-minute goal.
Chelsea, on the other hand, has not made as many errors in their journey to the final. However, they had to navigate their quarter-final clash with Aston Villa with a short-staffed squad. Despite the challenges, they managed to secure a 2-1 win with a goal from Sam Kerr.
One of the key factors in the final will be Manchester United’s attack, which has been the most potent in the WSL this season.
Nikita Parris and Galton have been in particularly good form, but the team’s selfless nature has also contributed to their success.
With at least five players in the squad who have scored five goals, they have a variety of options in attack.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will be looking to combat fatigue and integrate key players who have only just returned from injury.
Pernille Harder and Kadeisha Buchanan have both been absent for much of the season with knee and hamstring injuries, but they have already made an impact since their return.
Overall, it promises to be an exciting and closely contested final between two of the best teams in the WSL.
The winner will not only lift the FA Cup but also establish themselves as the team to beat in the pursuit of a domestic double.