Man City seals women’s double with 3-0 FA Cup over West Ham

LONDON (AP) — Manchester City completed a domestic women’s double by asserting its supremacy over first-time finalist West Ham in the second half to seal a 3-0 FA Cup final victory at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

After City was frustrated in the first half, Keira Walsh’s shot took a slight deflection and swerved before going through goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse’s hands in the 52nd minute.

Moorhouse’s saves prevented City extending its lead before she was beaten again in the 81st when Georgina Stanway jinxed through the defense before netting low. Moorhouse raced off her line to block but was lobbed by substitute Lauren Hemp in the 88th minute of the 49th Women’s FA Cup final.

“We didn’t play that well in the first half but to score three goals we are delighted,” City captain Steph Houghton said. “We have a group of winners and people who want to learn and improve. A great blend of youth and experience.”

It is the sixth trophy in six seasons since the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth that transformed the City men’s team into an English force was pumped into the women’s squad.

City was unbeaten domestically this season and also collected the League Cup in February, but it was beaten to the Women’s Super League title by Arsenal last weekend.

While the League Cup success — on penalties against Arsenal — came in front of 2,424 fans in Sheffield, the FA Cup was lifted with 43,264 fans at English football’s national stadium in London.

The prospect of a bigger crowd was hampered by the Premier League not bringing forward Saturday’s kickoff for the men’s team at their east London stadium and there being no direct Manchester-London trains this weekend due to engineering work.