IRELAND DEFENDER MEGAN Campbell shone as Manchester City stormed to FA Cup glory with a 4-1 win over Birmingham City this evening.
The Ireland international was on fire at Wembley Stadium in front of a 35,271 record-breaking crowd, as she assisted twice in the first-half and was pivotal as City had stormed into a 3-0 lead by half-time.
It took the Manchester outfit 17 minutes to open the scoring, as Campbell’s stunning left-footed free-kick found Lucy Bronze, who nodded in. The Drogheda native was unlucky not to grab her side’s first goal just a minute earlier, as her effort rattled the side-netting.
City doubled their lead just seven minutes later, Bronze this time assisting as Izzy Christiansen put one past her former club.
Two-time Fifa World Player of the Year Carli Lloyd summoned golden memories of London 2012, in which she scored a brace to lead the United States to Olympic glory, as she tripled City’s lead before half-time.
You can watch Lloyd’s goal assisted by Campbell here:
Carli Lloyd Scores Goal to put Manchester City 3 up. Video: BBC 2, SSE Women's 2017 FA Cup Final #SSEWomensFACup #womensfootball #mcwfc pic.twitter.com/O5JXzUWgpc
— WomensSoccerUnited (@WSUasa) May 13, 2017
It was Campbell again with a decisive delivery, another spectacular cross pin-pointing Lloyd, who headed past Ann-Katrin Berger, leaving the Birmingham keeper with no chance.
The opening minutes of the second half saw the 23-year-old unleash her monstrous throw-in for the first time in the decider. Nothing of notice came off the original one, but it was warmly received on social media.
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
Birmingham pulled one back through Charlie Wellings with a soaring strike from just inside the box, after 72 minutes of action.
Campbell made way after 78 minutes as Abbie McManus replaced the former Raheny United and Florida State University defender.
Jill Scott then completed City’s haul with ten minutes on the clock, as the side won their first-ever FA Cup and ensured they now hold all three domestic trophies.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
