Manchester City completed a dominant season by beating Brighton 4-0 in the Women’s FA Cup final, securing a domestic double at Wembley. The Women’s Super League champions controlled key moments, punished Brighton’s errors and became only the third club to win both trophies in the same campaign, joining Arsenal and Chelsea in that achievement.

This was Manchester City’s fifth appearance in an FA Cup final, and the club arrived with mixed history in the showpiece. Manchester City had triumphed in their first three finals but lost 3-2 to Chelsea in 2021-22. That defeat added extra motivation, and the players responded with a clinical, four-goal display against a Brighton side on debut.

Brighton, playing in an FA Cup final for the first time, started with confidence and pressed Manchester City back. An early injury scare for goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita unsettled Andree Jeglertz’s team further. Yamashita continued after treatment, and the holders regained shape. Manchester City went ahead in the 38th minute when Khadija Shaw met Alex Greenwood’s cross with a looping header.

Alex Greenwood added a second goal for Manchester City on the stroke of half-time. The captain struck a precise free-kick into the bottom-right corner, shifting momentum firmly. Brighton’s hopes of responding faded after the break. Substitute Aoba Fujino came on and saw a shot deflect beyond Chiamaka Nnadozie midway through the second half, before Vivianne Miedema headed a late fourth in the 87th minute.

Manchester City Women’s FA Cup final numbers and expected goals

Data Debrief underlined how efficient Manchester City were in attack, despite Brighton competing well in general play. Manchester City produced 14 shots compared to Brighton’s 12. However, Manchester City hit the target with 10 efforts and recorded 1.97 expected goals, while Brighton registered 0.94 xG and created fewer clear chances when the match was finely balanced.

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Jeglertz had demanded near-perfect execution from Manchester City, and the finishing reflected that demand. Shaw, who has agreed to remain with Manchester City, now has 20 goals in 19 FA Cup appearances. Greenwood became the first player to score a free-kick in the Women’s FA Cup final since Arsenal’s Kelly Smith did so against Everton 12 years earlier, adding another notable detail to Manchester City’s win.