13th May, 2017
World Player of the Year Carli Lloyd was among the scorers as Manchester City cruised past Birmingham to win the Women’s FA Cup for the first time.
Lucy Bronze headed the opener following a free-kick and crossed for Izzy Christiansen to crash home the second.
Lloyd’s header capped a fine 14-minute spell to make it 3-0 by the break.
Charlie Wellings’ goal gave Birmingham brief hope, but Jill Scott’s fierce shot sealed City’s victory in front of a competition-record crowd at Wembley.
The 2016 Women’s Super League champions are now in possession of all three main domestic honours – the first team to do so since Arsenal Ladies in 2011.
Birmingham had knocked out holders Arsenal and 2015 champions Chelsea to make the final, but the 2012 winners never looked like repeating that feat on their first trip to Wembley in front of 35,271 fans.
Before 2014, Manchester City Women had never lifted a major trophy – but they are now closing in on a potential clean sweep of all four domestic honours in the space of nine months.
Having won the WSL and Continental Cup last year, they will hope to add the WSL Spring Series to their Women’s FA Cup success.
Manchester City, who also reached the Champions League semi-finals in May, had never even played in the top flight when Birmingham won the FA Cup in 2012.
-BBC