Brighton & Hove Albion 0-4 Manchester City Adobe Women's FA Cup final result - Bunny Shaw sets WSL champions on way to double

Skipper Alex Greenwood and star striker Bunny Shaw both scored and set up another as Manchester City downed Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 at Wembley to secure the Adobe Women's FA Cup to go with their Women's Super League success.

The Seagulls were by far the better side in the first half hour but could not make their pressure pay with Marisa Olislagers seeing an effort cleared off the line and veteran Fran Kirby failing to convert from point-blank range.

Unsurprisingly, it was Shaw who opened the scoring seven minutes before the break, beating goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie to Greenwood's cross at the far post and heading home emphatically.

In injury time of the first half, Greenwood secured a lead which always looked like being unassailable, hitting a low free kick inside Nnadozie's left-hand post.

City were flattered a little following goals from substitutes Aoba Fujino, after fine work from Shaw, and Vivianne Mediema.

The victory sees City lift the trophy for the fourth time, their first since 2020, and achieve an a first domestic double for the women's side.

Brighton will see the season as one of real progress as they look to become one of the forces in the women's game.

Andree Jeglertz spoke about the efforts of his team in winning the FA Cup today, sealing a domestic double.

"I think we struggled a lot in the first half but there is something with this team, we have so many individual qualities and those are the ones who are giving us the opportunity to win the game," Jeglertz told TNT Sports.

"So that's what it's about. We can play with a lot of attention to build-up and owning the ball, but it's about what you do in the penalty area which wins us [this trophy]."

On first season: "I think that the biggest challenge is to work with a group that has so many good football players, strong characters, individuals, who have strong opinions, everybody wants to play every week. And that’s the toughest part as a coach, I think.

"Because we have too many players who can't play every weekend and to adapt to that has been a challenge but that's my job. I would also like to say not coming into the club with: 'This is how we play football,' more like understanding what are the strengths of this group, how to we get the best out of them. I think sometimes we make mistakes there and bring in a formation. I think that has been my biggest task."

TNT Sports pundit Karen Carney thinks City will soon turn their attentions to building a dynasty in the women's game to the one Pep Guardiola has.

"I think for City now it's about how do you evolve? How do you invest? Because this can't just be a one-time thing," Carney said on TNT Sports.

"You've got a squad there, a manager they all seem to like and you've got to develop that. You've got to kick on, not only two trophies and European places. you've got to win that title now."

The three-time Super League golden boot winner spoke to TNT Sports after a goal and assist helped her team to victory.

"It's been a crazy few weeks," Shaw told TNT Sports. "Lots of emotions, from not knowing where I'd be to signing a contract to be here, to win the FA Cup. The last time I was at Wembley, I actually lost so I wanted to correct that today and we actually did it."
On start of match: "In the first few minutes I came over to [Lauren Hemp] and was like: 'Brighton are popping it!' I didn't know what to do. And then we had a break and we decided to let them have it higher up and just go man-for-man and I think that worked."

New contract: "It's been months. It's been a long couple of months. A whole lot of different emotions but I've always said that I wanted to be here. If I'm being honest, it's been very difficult but towards the end we got it done and I'm happy about that."
On getting better: "I'm hard on myself. Sometimes the girls say I'm being too hard on myself. And it's in training normally. You know when you're in training and you're trying to correct your mistakes but they just keep on happening. And I always watch back my clips to see how I can be better and try to relieve them in training."

Alex Greenwood told TNT Sports: "Incredible. What a season. What a way to end the season. We had a period in between winning the league to now, and we enjoyed ourselves, we had a great time, we enjoyed being winners but today was about doing what champions do. And that's to come and win again and again and again. It's just a fantastic team to be a part of, I'm very proud of them and so glad we could do it front of our fans."

On goal: "[My left foot is] not quite Kelly Smith's! I practice it all the time and I hadn't scored a single goal this whole season which a bit annoying, to be honest. But when the ball fell and she gave the free-kick, I thought: 'You practiced all season' so at least it went in the back of the net."

On winning this year: "Well if you watch the game, we didn't play that well in the first half. I think we started the game a bit slow. Ok, maybe we've had two weeks time without playing which is not an excuse but it plays a part in it. I thought Brighton started the game well, but the difference is we can not concede a goal and change the momentum of the game. Believe in each other, tactics, and we have incredible individuals who can take the game by the scruff of the neck."

She met the corner with a header at the near post but could not turn it home.

"That's an emotional goal for Miedema but I tell you what, it was all about her in the build-up to the goal," Lucy Ward said on TNT Sports.

"And then she was on the end of it right in front of the City fans. It was her pass out which was brilliant and then the sheer determination, 'get the ball in, I'm going to get on the end of it' and then getting that header right.

"Too much power on it for Nnadozie. Classic Miedema. It means a lot for her."

In those crucial moments before the break, she set up Shaw's opener and then netted the second with her free kick.

Miedema started the move with a fantastic ball to the right flank to Casparij and then met a cross with a header from six yards out to put gloss on the scoreline for City.

She is replaced by Coombs who gives her a big hug before coming on.

Sloppy defending allowed Greenwood to carry the ball from a short corner inside the area where she fed Fujino whose effort was blocked with the keeper's feet at the near post.

Shaw raced towards the penalty area and drove a ball headed for the top-right corner which the Brighton keeper tipped over.

The forward played well when Brighton dominated the first half hour, but like her team-mates has been less noticeable since then.

Kirby is replaced by Noordam. Not the ending she wanted after inspiring Brighton to the final.