The 2007 FA Women's Cup Final was the 37th final of the FA Women's Cup, England's primary cup competition for women's football teams. It was the 14th final to be held under the direct control of the Football Association (FA). The final was contested between Arsenal and Charlton Athletic at the City Ground on 7 May 2007. Arsenal won the game 4–1 to secure their second successive FA Cup triumph and their eight in total. The match was attended by a crowd of 24,529 and was broadcast live on BBC One.
Match
Summary Already winners of the UEFA Women's Cup, FA Women's Premier League National Division and the FA Women's Premier League Cup, Arsenal, managed by Vic Akers, came into the game as favourites. Meanwhile Charlton Athletic, managed by Keith Boanas, came through a hard fought semi-final against Blackburn Rovers, with Natasha Dowie scoring the only goal, to make it to their second final.
Charlton Athletic were given the dream start after just two minutes of play, as Eniola Aluko's low cross was slotted in at the far post by Katie Holtham. Arsenal were level within five minutes, as Kelly Smith curled home a 25-yard free-kick after being hacked down by Charlton's right-back Maria Bertelli. The Gunners were in front by the quarter hour after winning a free kick near the corner flag: Jayne Ludlow was the quickest to get to Lianne Sanderson's near post cross and she steered her shot underneath goalkeeper Toni-Anne Wayne. Ludlow then claimed her second goal in first-half stoppage-time with a 30-yard strike which flew into the top corner of the net.
Charlton's best chance of the second half came when Aluko broke away and shot through Emma Byrne's legs, but the shot was diverted wide of the post by the goalkeeper's leg. Meanwhile, the Gunners had plenty of chances to further their lead, but the fourth goal came when Smith curled in a shot nine minutes from time, wrapping up a record-equalling eighth FA Cup win.
Details
GK 13 Toni-Anne WayneDF 2 Casey Stoney (c)DF 5 Karen HillsDF 17 Sinead BoyerDF 7 Danielle MurphyDF6 Maria BertelliMF14 Jessica SmithMF4 Katie HolthamMF 11 Josanne PotterFW10 Natasha DowieFW 9 Eniola AlukoSubstitutes:FW 8 Ashlee Hincks DF15 Natasha HughesFW12 Ann-Marie HeathersonDF 3 Michelle HickmottGK 1 Pauline CopeManager: Keith Boanas GK 1 Emma ByrneDF 12 Alex ScottDF 7 Ciara GrantDF 18 Anita AsanteDF 23 Mary PhillipMF 17 Katie ChapmanMF 4 Jayne Ludlow (c)MF 8 Kelly SmithFW9 Lianne SandersonFW10 Julie FleetingFW 11 Rachel YankeySubstitutes:MF14 Karen CarneyMF20 Gemma DavisonDF 6 Faye WhiteMF 16 Sian LarkinGK 24 Rebecca SpencerManager: Vic Akers
Player of the match
Assistant referees: Graham Scott John Stokes Fourth official: Shaun Proctor-GreenMatch rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Five named substitutes. Maximum of three substitutions.
References