LONDON: Growing up in the area, Keira Walsh never envisaged Manchester City being a force in women’s football, let alone playing for them and being part of trophy-winning teams.
Walsh broke the deadlock in the 49th Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday and set City on the way to a 3-0 victory over West Ham, completing a domestic double.
It is the sixth trophy in six seasons since the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth that transformed the City men’s team into an English force was pumped into the women’s squad.
“As a fan that’s when I saw the change,” Walsh said, referring to Sheikh Mansour’s 2008 takeover. “As a youngster I never imagined I would be playing for Man City Women and I never thought I would be playing at Wembley in the FA Cup final — and scoring.”
It had been a frustrating first half for City against the first-time finalist, with goalkeeper Karen Bardsley preventing West Ham taking a shock lead by blocking a header from former teammate Jane Ross.
But seven minutes after the break, Walsh’s shot appeared to take a slight deflection and swerved before going through goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse’s hands.
Moorhouse’s saves prevented City extending its lead before she was beaten again in the 81st when Georgia Stanway jinked through the defense before netting low. In the 88th, Moorhouse raced off her line to block but was lobbed by substitute Lauren Hemp from outside of the penalty area.
“We didn’t play that well in the first half but to score three goals we are delighted,” City captain Steph Houghton said. “We have a group of winners and people who want to learn and improve. A great blend of youth and experience.”
City has been unbeaten domestically this season, collecting the League Cup in February but being pipped to the Women’s Super League title by Arsenal last weekend with one game remaining.
“The push next year is to really challenge for the Champions League,” Walsh said. “The club ethos is to just keep winning trophies.”
City’s men return to Wembley for the FA Cup final in two weeks, having already won the League Cup here in February — one day after the women’s version was collected.
While the League Cup success — on penalties against Arsenal Women — came in front of 2,424 fans in Sheffield, the FA Cup was lifted with 43,264 fans at English football’s national stadium in London.
“The crowd today shows where women’s football is going,” Walsh said.
The prospect of a bigger crowd was hampered by there being no direct Manchester-London trains this weekend due to engineering work, and by the Premier League not bringing forward Saturday’s kickoff for the West Ham men’s team at their east London stadium.
At the end of its first season as a professional side in the Women’s Super League, West Ham was pleased to hold off the might of City — at least in the first half.
“I don’t think there was a major difference between us,” West Ham captain Gilly Flaherty said. “You can have all the money in the world but it won’t necessary make you a great team. We surprised a few people.
“I spoke to a City girl at the end of the game and she said they were panicking at halftime. ... Maybe they underestimated us.”
Man City seals women’s double with 3-0 FA Cup over West Ham
Man City seals women’s double with 3-0 FA Cup over West Ham
Forest, Celtic into Europa League play-offs as Villa fight back
- Villa looked to be sliding to just a second defeat in Europe this campaign when Salzburg surged 2-0 ahead in Birmingham through goals from Karim Konate and Moussa Yeo
PARIS, France: Nottingham Forest will go into the Europa League play-off round after a 4-0 win over Ferencvaros on Thursday, while Celtic secured their place in the knockout phase with victory over Utrecht.
Aston Villa finished second in the league phase after recovering from two goals down to beat Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 with their spot in the last 16 already assured.
Forest stood an outside chance of climbing into the top eight going into the final round of matches but needed to beat Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros and rely on other results going their way.
Sean Dyche’s side did their bit as Igor Jesus struck twice for Forest after Ferencvaros defender Bence Otvos scored an own goal. James McAtee tucked away a late penalty, but the win was only enough for the Premier League club to finish 13th overall.
“It has not been easy through various games, the schedule, planning, traveling and all that sort of stuff. To come out of a disappointing one in Braga (1-0 loss last week) and then to deliver that I am very pleased,” Dyche told TNT Sports.
Twice former European champions Forest will learn their play-off fate on Friday. They will face Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos over two legs next month, while Stuttgart or Ferencvaros await Celtic, who overcame lowly Utrecht 4-2 after scoring three times in the first 19 minutes in Glasgow.
Benjamin Nygren put Celtic ahead before an own goal from Utrecht captain Nick Viergever. Arne Engels converted a penalty with Celtic cruising, but Utrecht pulled it back to within one until Auston Trusty’s header gave the hosts some more breathing space.
Teen wins it for Villa
Villa looked to be sliding to just a second defeat in Europe this campaign when Salzburg surged 2-0 ahead in Birmingham through goals from Karim Konate and Moussa Yeo.
Morgan Rogers reduced the deficit and Tyrone Mings headed Villa level, with 19-year-old Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba netting his first senior goal to complete the turnaround for Unai Emery’s men.
“It’s a proud moment for me on my European debut,” Jimoh-Aloba told TNT Sports. “It’s just really nice to make my family proud and stuff because of all the hard work. I’ve had a lot of lows this season and a lot of highs, but this is top.”
Villa, who sit third in the Premier League, will get a welcome break before the last 16 — where they could meet Lille, PAOK, Red Star Belgrade or Celta Vigo.
Emery has won the Europa League a record four times as a manager and Rogers believes that is a considerable advantage for Villa.
“He knows how to get his way through a competition, especially this one. To have him in our corner guiding us through it is going to be massive,” said Rogers.
Lyon topped the table with seven wins from eight after completing the league phase with a 4-2 victory over PAOK. A minute’s silence was observed before kick-off in memory of the seven Greek fans killed in a minibus accident in Romania on Tuesday.
Midtjylland, Real Betis, Porto, Braga, Freiburg and Roma all finished in the top eight to ensure direct qualification for the last 16.
Rangers concluded a miserable European campaign with a 3-1 loss at Porto, their sixth defeat in eight games in the competition.
