Manchester United and Chelsea will contest a historic Women’s FA Cup final at a sold-out Wembley this weekend, expected to set huge new competition attendance record (currently 49,094) and an all-time record for a women’s club game played in England (currently 60,063).
United have reached the final for the first time, having never gone beyond the last eight prior to this season. As such, it is also a first trip to Wembley for the club since a 60-minute exhibition game in 1996, although manager Marc Skinner led Birmingham to the 2017 final and a number of players have experience of the stadium either from past finals with former clubs or at international level.
For Chelsea, the aim is to win a third successive FA Cup and match what only Southampton Women’s FC (1971, 1972, 1973) and Arsenal (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) have ever done. They beat Arsenal in a heavily delayed 2021 final and edged the 2022 edition in extra-time against Manchester City – Sam Kerr scored twice in each game to underline her big-game player reputation.
These two clubs also happen to be going head to head for this season’s WSL title. Only one point separates them in the league standings, with United narrowly ahead but Chelsea having a game in hand to play a few days after this final and the goal differences equal.
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United captain Katie Zelem is back from a suspension after missing the WSL win over Tottenham, which could mean the impressive Vilde Boe Risa drops to the bench. Lisa Naalsund made her return to the squad for that one and should be in contention to play some part here.
2018 FA Cup winner Maria Thorisdottir misses out through injury.
Read the latest Women’s FA Cup news here
Sam Kerr wasn’t risked against Leicester, even though she was fit after previously coming off early against Everton, but is expected to start here. Pernille Harder is in devastating form and Lauren James will be hoping for another big game against her former club after starring in November – although Hayes did sacrifice the precocious talent for tactical solidity against Barcelona.
Kadeisha Buchanan will be pushing to start after returning from the bench last time out, but usual centre-back partner Millie Bright is set to miss out. Fran Kirby is also absent.
United have been getting closer and closer to Chelsea over the past couple of years. The 6-1 thrashing at Leigh Sports Village in 2021 is a distant memory and Skinner’s team have conceded fewer goals each time they have faced the Blues in the WSL since then.
Indeed, in their most recent meeting, it was a single Sam Kerr goal that decided a tight game at Kingsmeadow, while United had two strong penalty appeals turned down – the fact that VAR is in use for the final means that neither team will be let off the hook or unduly punished by poor refereeing.
Chelsea have the experience of having done this time and time again, and they know what it is like to play in the biggest games and fight for trophies consistently. What counts against them, however, could be fatigue, having played 14 times to United’s nine since the start of March.
Even with Pernille Harder back in top form and the potential return of Kadeisha Buchanan to the starting XI, United might not get a better chance to beat Chelsea for the first time. They are at virtually full strength and shouldn’t be overawed by the size of the pitch, being used to a large playing surface at Leigh Sports Village – if anything, it could actually suit their style with pace in wide areas.
Chelsea will likely go on to win the league, but United could edge it in the cup.
Prediction: Man Utd 1-0 Chelsea
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