Key events
GOAL! Manchester United 3-0 Tottenham (Garcia, 57)
Oh my, a howler from Spencer.
57 min: Every set piece from United has been impressive with chances coming each time and this time it connects well. Williams, the top competition’s top scorer, heads home. Tottenham try and hit back immediately but England’s effort is wide.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham (Williams, 55)
Zelem’s delivery again is perfect and Williams heads home. That could be the final now.
54 min: Nilden trips Garcia and United have a free kick. Before it is taken Spurs make some changes with Vinberg and Naz off for Wang and Bizet.
53 min: Garcia has a lightning run but Buhler does so well to track back and dispossess her. Spurs come forward but the chance is initially repelled. Naz gets on it shortly after and looks to be fouled by Le Tissier but nothing is given.
“I’m watching the FA Cup on TV in New Zealand (as well as checking in on your comments in the Guardian). It’s close to 3am Monday morning over here,” Ingrid Kamstra emailed.
“BTW, with a pitch-side temperature of at least 28 degrees, why on earth is Marc Skinner wearing a black turtleneck sweater?!!!! Superstition (ie did he wear it all season or in previous FA games)? He’s going to melt in a huge, stinky puddle of sweat by the end of this game.”
Yes he does traditionally wear a turtleneck in big games and so he is sticking with it. He must be so hot!
51 min: At the moment Spurs’ touches in the final third are so rushed, they need some composure when they have their chances to throw some punches. United make their first change with Galton off for Malard. Galton is in tears as she comes off, maybe that was an injury change rather than a tactical one.
49 min: Spurs build but Thomas finds herself with no space, she does well to win a throw in. In the resulting attack though Buhler has a foul on Williams and the chance is gone.
47 min: Both teams are bang up for this is the second half, Spurs have not shrunk. Remember Tottenham have come back to win games nine times this season after conceding first.
Back underway! Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham
So can United see this out? Or will Spurs fight back? All to come.
I have re-watched the goal about five times and I think it is actually Lucia Garcia who holds the defender back. I am not convinced the defender, which I think is Buhler, would have been able to stop Toone’s rocket but you never know.
Maybe there was more to that Williams potential foul:
Spurs really not happy about that goal. Ref has booked someone, either Thomas or England, for complaining in the aftermath, and there are still some conversations as the players leave the pitch
— Ameé Ruszkai (@ameeruszkai) May 12, 2024
Björn Isaksson emailed and said: “I am a bit confused, I think it was Williams that actually held the nearest Spurs defender so that she could not close down Toone. Any idea why it did not resulted in a freekick for Spurs? For me that just can not be correct.”
There was definite contact between the two but it isn’t as much for it to be a foul in my opinion. There is VAR in operation so if something was untoward they would have intervened.
The goal was Ella Toone’s fourth in seven Wembley appearances. Her first was in the Euros final. Her second the Finalissima against Brazil. Her third a late winner against the Netherlands. Her fourth in the Women’s FA Cup final. A big game player.
Robyn Cowen commentating on this goal takes me back to the Euros final, it was her voice which spoke BBC viewers through that game.
Half-time: Manchester United 0-0 Tottenham
Manchester United had the better chances and the dam was eventually broken by Ella Toone. It was an electric goal but Tottenham are still in this. All to play for.
45 + 3 min: Toone takes the ball calmly and evades a Summanen tackle, she rockets it from outside the area and it’s in. What a goal. She loves Wembley.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham (Toone, 45 + 2)
Oh my word.
45 + 1 min: United have two attempts at goal but both are blocked, it then comes to Le Tissier but her long range effort is miles over the bar. There will be three minutes added.
45 min: Blundell has marked Naz so well so far this afternoon. Naz is so fast and usually comes up with the goods but she has been unable to really put her stamp on the game so far because of Blundell’s defensive work. Spurs get in a good position again and Vinberg crosses but it is just beyond Thomas, if they get that cleanly to Thomas or England they could find a goal.
43 min: Toone races onto a loose ball but Spurs keep a level head, swarm her and she is dispossessed. The game has slowed slightly in tempo, it may have something to do with the heat or could be both sides don’t want to concede late in this first half.
41 min: Karen Asad has emailed and said: “I think missing Alessia Russo did a real damage to United’s prospects for this season. Just hope they don’t repeat it with Earps; she is simply cannot be allowed to leave.”
Maybe in the WSL but in the Women’s FA Cup Manchester United have done just fine without Alessia Russo. I think if they lost Mary Earps it would be a huge blow, she is a player who keeps them in games. Back to the final and Spurs are on the attack here, Naz did so well to keep the play going but eventually United are easily able to dispossess and stop the danger.
39 min: Tottenham are camped in their own half here and they are struggling to get front foot ball at the moment. United pick it up and Blundell has a shot blocked, it comes to Toone who spins towards goal but it is wide.
37 min: Naz cannot believe she hasn’t been given a free kick, she is fouled and the TV coverage picks up her shout of “hey” but nothing is given. United come forward and Riviere gets a shot but it’s over the bar. Marc Skinner’s side are getting closer.
35 min: Zelem’s delivery is impeccable and it is directed toward goal but Thomas has a goal line clearance. Tottenham’s defence stepping up today. There were claims from United of a handball from Spence but nothing has been given. VAR is in operation.
34 min: Zelem plays it short to Toone, she is well marked by Naz but she concedes a corner.
33 min: United have a free kick with Le Tissier fouled but it is deep in their own half and so they will need to build from deep. A huge pass from Earps gets them in the right area and Le Tissier wins another free kick, this time from an England foul. The set piece is in a great position.
32 min: Both clubs have had their chances in this final but both are missing the clinical edge. United have definitely had the more promising of efforts, particularly through Williams, but nothing to break the deadlock yet. United have the latest chance with a great pass from Turner to Galton, she gets it to Williams but Buhler defends well to clear.
30 min: Galton is dispossessed by James-Turner as this final continues to be a pinball in terms of chances and possession. Spurs come forward here, Vinberg pops it in but the pass is behind Thomas and so the chance is gone.
28 min: Tottenham have a free kick with a high boot on Naz, Summanen takes the set piece and it it headed toward goal but it doesn’t have enough on it to trouble Earps.
26 min: Garcia makes a great run and cross into the box, Williams heads it down to Toone but her effort is over the bar. Toone has scored three goals in her last six appearances at Wembley.
25 min: Play is now back underway.
24 min: United have a loose pass and Summanen pops the long ball forward but it has too much on it so Earps can collect. There is a drinks break here now, pitch side temperature is 28 degrees.
22 min: Chants of “come on you Spurs” reverberates around Wembley as United look to attack once again. The high press from Tottenham forces them back to Earps.
20 min: Zelem delivers well again, Turner heads it down away from Spencer. It comes to Garcia but Summanen puts in an amazing challenge to see the ball over and out for a goal kick. Without that superb defence the deadlock would have been broken.