2009 FA Women's Cup final

2009 FA Women's Cup Final
The match programme cover
Event2008–09 FA Women's Cup
Date4 May 2009
VenuePride Park Stadium, Derby
RefereeSaša Ihringová (Shropshire)
Attendance23,291

The 2009 FA Women's Cup Final was the 39th final of the FA Women's Cup, England's primary cup competition for women's football teams. It was the 16th final to be held under the direct control of the Football Association (FA). The final was contested between Arsenal and Sunderland at Pride Park Stadium in Derby on 4 May 2009. Arsenal won the game 2–1 to secure their fourth successive FA Cup triumph and their tenth in total. The match was attended by a crowd of 23,291.

Match

Summary

Arsenal, managed by Vic Akers,[1] reached their fourth FA Women's Cup final in succession after a 3–1 victory against Everton in the semi-finals,[2] while Premier League Northern Division side Sunderland, managed by Mick Mulhern, reached their first ever final in the competition after beating Chelsea 3–0 at the Stadium of Light, becoming the first team from outside the top flight to do so since Fulham in 2002.[3]

Arsenal, who came into the game as favourites, dominated the vast majority of the match, with Gemma Davison and Kim Little creating several chances in the opening minutes. Sunderland created their first half chance as Sophie Williams chased a long ball down the left and crossed, but Niamh Fahey's challenge was enough to prevent Jordan Nobbs getting in a clean shot on goal. Arsenal hit back with Little striking over from distance and Davison drawing a save from Sunderland goalkeeper Helen Alderson after cutting in from the left. An angled shot from Suzanne Grant slid underneath Alderson, but Lucy Bronze managed to prevent Rachel Yankey from scoring with a last-ditch clearance. Arsenal took the lead just after the half hour, when Alderson failed to hold Davison's shot and Katie Chapman followed up to score from the rebound. The Gunners had a chance to double their lead two minutes ahead of the break, when Little slotted a good ball through to Grant, but her shot went wide of the far post.[4]

Arsenal had most of the possession in the second half, but their second goal came in injury time, when Chapman chipped the ball into the path of Little, who got round Alderson before tucking the ball into the empty net. Kelly McDougall pulled one back for Sunderland in the seventh minute of stoppage time, whose length was dictated by Sophie Williams having to receive more than five minutes of treatment after suffering a seizure.[5]

Details

Arsenal2–1Sunderland
Report
Arsenal
Sunderland
GK1Republic of Ireland Emma Byrne
DF15England Laura Bassettdownward-facing red arrow 90+4'
DF7Republic of Ireland Ciara Grant
DF5England Gilly Flaherty
DF19Republic of Ireland Niamh Fahey
MF17England Katie Chapman
MF4Wales Jayne Ludlow (c)
MF12England Gemma Davisondownward-facing red arrow 82'
MF11England Rachel Yankey
FW16Scotland Kim Little
FW9Scotland Suzanne Grantdownward-facing red arrow 58'
Substitutes:
DF6England Faye Whiteupward-facing green arrow 90+4'
FW20Wales Helen Landerupward-facing green arrow 58'
MF18Scotland Natalie Rossupward-facing green arrow 82'
GK13Jamaica Rebecca Spencer
DF21Saint Lucia Eartha Pond
Manager:
England Vic Akers
GK1England Helen Alderson
DF2England Lucy Bronze
DF5England Stephanie Bannon (c)
DF6England Victoria GreenwellYellow card 88'
DF3England Sophie Halliday
MF7England Lucy Staniforth
MF4England Jordan Nobbs
MF8England Kelly McDougall
FW9England Sophie Williamsdownward-facing red arrow 58'
FW10United States Natalia Gutteridgedownward-facing red arrow 84'
FW11England Demi Stokes
Substitutes:
FW12England Nicola Devineupward-facing green arrow 58'
MF14England Sarah Danbyupward-facing green arrow 84'
GKEngland Rachael Laws
MFEngland Steph O'Brien
DFEngland Abbey Holmes
Manager:
England Mick Mulhern

Player of the match

Assistant referees:
Emma Everson
Sarah Garratt
Fourth official:
Sian Massey-Ellis

Match 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

  1. ↑ "Yankey wants to win Cup for Akers". BBC Sport. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  2. ↑ "Sunderland reach FA Women's final". BBC Sport. 22 March 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "Arsenal and Sunderland ready for Final". Women's Soccer Scene. 4 May 2009. Archived from the original on 6 May 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  4. ↑ "Arsenal too strong for plucky Sunderland". Women's Soccer Scene. 5 May 2009. Archived from the original on 6 July 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ↑ "Arsenal give Vic Akers the right send-off with the wrong performance". The Guardian. 4 May 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2018.