Chelsea outclassed Manchester United 3-0 at Wembley to win the Women’s FA Cup final, completing an unbeaten domestic campaign in dominant fashion. While Manchester United had their moments, it was Chelsea’s quality and composure that made the difference.
Chelsea’s goalkeeper Hannah Hampton had a quiet afternoon, with Manchester United rarely testing her. Her only notable contribution was a composed one-on-one save against Elisabeth Terland, earning her a steady 6/10. Lucy Bronze was energetic down the right, pushing forward effectively and demonstrating the physical edge Chelsea held throughout the match. She earned a solid 7 for her efforts.
In defence, Nathalie Björn was largely reliable, though she was caught out in the air by Terland for one of United’s few chances. Millie Bright, as dependable as ever, played with assurance, while Naomi Girma stood out as a defensive star. Her pace and positioning kept Terland quiet, and her awareness made her one of Chelsea’s best performers, deserving an 8.
Niamh Charles contributed intelligently, often creating space for others even if she didn’t shine individually, earning her a 6. Aggie Beever-Jones showed good movement but was unable to capitalise on her chances, receiving a 5. Keira Walsh was subdued compared to her usual standards, but her tactical nous remained vital in midfield. Erin Cuthbert, a constant source of grit and drive, embodied Chelsea’s combative spirit and added important intensity to the midfield battle.
The standout player was Sandy Baltimore. Her two goals and a stunning assist for Catarina Macario’s header highlighted her technical class and attacking threat. She was Chelsea’s clear player of the match with a rating of 9. Mayra Ramírez worked hard up front but had little impact on the scoreboard, meriting a 5.
Among the substitutes, Catarina Macario made a noticeable impact after coming on in the 62nd minute. Her header for Chelsea’s second goal was precise and well-timed, justifying an 8 rating. Wieke Kaptein, introduced late, contributed positively in midfield with smart touches, earning a 6. Brief cameos from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Guro Reiten, and Sjoeke Nüsken were too short to affect the match significantly, each scoring 5.
For Manchester United, Phallon Tullis-Joyce made several good first-half saves, but her failed attempt to psych out Baltimore during the penalty incident didn’t pay off, and she gets a 5. Aoife Mannion was solid defensively, but United missed the attacking presence of Jayde Riviere. Maya Le Tissier recovered from an early mistake to make strong defensive interventions. Millie Turner played the first half well before going off injured, while Gabby George had a mixed afternoon, almost scoring an own goal but also making key blocks.
Midfield was a problem area for United. Grace Clinton struggled to impose herself and received a 5. Dominique Janssen’s performance dipped after a positional switch to centre-back, and her missed chance hurt United’s hopes, earning her a 4. Hinata Miyazawa had flashes of quality but was outmuscled.
Celin Bizet had a particularly tough match, giving away the penalty and failing to threaten in attack. She, along with Janssen, was among United’s poorest performers with a 4. Terland’s effort and work rate could not make up for her lack of composure in front of goal. Leah Galton was perhaps United’s best outfield player, showing strong defensive commitment and determination throughout.
Among United’s substitutes, Ella Toone tried to make an impact but was largely ineffective. Others, including Melvine Malard, Anna Sandberg, Lisa Naalsund, and Rachel Williams, failed to shift the momentum as Chelsea dominated the closing stages.
Ultimately, Chelsea’s quality, control, and clinical finishing were too much for Manchester United, whose efforts never matched the intensity or precision of their opponents.
