Albion 0 Manchester City 4: Defeat at Wembley in FA Cup final

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Albion on top until Shaw breaks the deadlock as Manchester City complete the double

2026-05-31T17:30+01:00

Madison Haley is denied by City keeper Ayaka Yamashita during a dominant start to the game by Albion. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Our women's side were denied a first major trophy as WSL winners Manchester City ran out 4-0 victors at Wembley in the Adobe FA Cup final.

Albion controlled the first 35 minutes but once Bunny Shaw put the champions ahead they never looked back with Alex Greenwood, Aoba Fujino and Vivianne Miedema completing the scoring.

City headed to Wembley as WSL champions but it was Albion that had denied them an early trophy lift in the WSL after their 3-2 victory against the Citizens back in April at Broadfield Stadium.

The result, along with Albion's tremendous cup run, certainly gave Dario Vidosic's side confidence going into the game, which showed in the opening half hour.

Albion started the game positively and looked comfortable on the ball in the opening stages as they put together neat passages of play and looked threatening on the attack.

It wasn't long before Albion came close after Kiko Seike's cut back inside six minutes fell to the feet of Fran Kirby whose shot was blocked. Seike was able to get hold of the rebound but her effort was high and wide of the crossbar.

Against the run of play, City's forward Kerolin then came close at the other end after she managed to get to the ball ahead of Chiamaka Nnadozie who made a great save to deny the striker.

Albion's best chance came in the 12th minute when a through ball caused confusion amongst the City backline. Madison Haley pounced onto the loose ball and it was only the bravery of Ayaka Yamashita that denied the Albion forward.

The ball then fell kindly to Olislagers whose shot was going in until defender Greenwood cleared the ball off City's goal line.

Albion soon came on the charge again after a brilliant challenge from Manuela Vanegas caught City forward Karolin in possession. Jelena Cankovic was able to bring the ball forward and found Maisie Symonds on the edge of the box but her shot was over the bar.

Albion continued to threaten and Olislagers attempted to get on the end of Kirby's clever pass but she was just unable to get the ball under control.

Moeka Minami tries to get Albion moving with a pass from her own half. 📷Paul Hazlewood

After the half hour mark, City started to find a little more rhythm in the game and some great play from Shaw culminated in a first-time effort which was hit low and hard, but Nnadozie comfortably saved as she dived to her left.

Despite Albion's dominance in the opening 35 minutes, City found themselves ahead after a cross from Greenwood from the left found Shaw at the back post. Her header looped over Nnadozie to give City the lead against the run of play.

Albion responded well and their high press caught City in possession again, ending in a low strike from Vanegas which was comfortably saved by Yamashita.

In the fourth minute of added time came a killer blow. Albion were caught in possession and a foul by Maisie Symonds gave City a chance to double their lead with a free kick from a central position on the edge of the box. City captain Greenwood produced a clinical finish to the right which Nnadozie was unable to reach and from nowhere City led 2-0.

Albion needed a quick response in the second half but City worked hard to defend their lead before they put the game beyond Albion. A cross was pounced on by Fujino and the substitute cut back inside and found the back of the net for 3-0 midway through the second period.

City came close again after a corner led to another effort from Fujino which was tipped onto the post by Nnadozie as City started to dominate.

It was anotheqr substitute who got them a late fourth when Miedema's header found its way across the line, despite Nnadozie getting a strong hand to the ball in her attempt to keep it out.

Albion: Nnadozie, Vanegas, Minami, Hayes, Rule (sub: Mpome 71), Olislagers (McLauchlan 79), Cankovic, Symonds (Rayner 88), Kirby (Noordam 80), Seike (Kafaji 71), Haley.