United Women reach 2024 FA Cup final

Marc Skinner's Reds secured a place in the final for the second year in a row after beating Chelsea in a thrilling semi-final encounter at Leigh Sports Village.

Not only was it our first-ever victory over Emma Hayes's Blues, but it also ended Chelsea's 18-game unbeaten run in the competition after lifting the trophy in each of the last three seasons.

The second semi-final between Spurs and Leicester at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was just wrapping up as United kicked off in Leigh. It was the hosts who eventually won that tie , which required extra-time in north London.

Ex-United forward Martha Thomas scored the decisive goal 118 minutes into the game, sending Spurs to their first major final. Leicester, who had led since the 12th minute, had their hearts broken just seven minutes from the end of normal time when Spurs capitalised on a defenive error to equalise and force the extra-time.

The final meeting sees us lock horns with Tottenham in the biggest game of all, having both been promoted from the Women's Championship together in 2019.

Our record against them to date is strong, claiming 10 wins from 11 previous meetings - all in a league setting - with a 1-1 draw in November 2021 the only game that hasn't ended in United victory. Goals from Hannah Blundell, Ella Toone, Melvine Malard and Hayley Ladd secured a comprehensive 4-0 win away from home in the WSL earlier this season, with Spurs set to visit Leigh in the league next weekend. That game will now double as a dress rehearsal for the Wembley final.

Lucia Garcia and Rachel Williams scored the goals in the semi-final that will give United a chance to claim a first piece of major silverware, having come so agonisingly close in a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea under the Wembley arch 11 months ago.

The Blues did pull a goal back through Lauren James deep into first half stoppage time, but Mary Earps shone in goal by making a number of top saves and everyone in a United shirt collectively defended for their lives to ensure victory.

All general admission tickets for the final have already been sold, but United and Spurs will now each be given their own allocation of 12,000 tickets, 50% more than were made available to the clubs in last season's final.