Nigeria international goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie delivered another courageous performance on one of football’s biggest finals, but could not prevent Manchester City from ending Brighton Women’s historic FA Cup dream.
For Brighton, it was a heartbreaking ending to what had been a remarkable campaign. For Manchester City, it was the final chapter of a dominant season that firmly established them as the best team in England.
And for Nnadozie, despite ending on the losing side, it was another reminder of why she has become one of the most respected goalkeepers in women’s football.
In front of 43,917 spectators at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, the Super Falcons shot-stopper produced six saves and several important interventions, yet Brighton fell to a painful 4-0 defeat as Manchester City completed a historic domestic double by adding the Women’s FA Cup to their Women’s Super League crown.
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A Historic Dream for Chiamaka Nnadozie
The final represented uncharted territory for Brighton.
The Seagulls were appearing in the first major final in the club’s history and arrived at Wembley believing they could cap an impressive season with a famous upset.
Under manager Dario Vidosic, Brighton had emerged as one of the Women’s Super League’s most improved teams, putting together their longest unbeaten run in more than a decade and climbing into the top half of the table.
Their supporters travelled in huge numbers, turning Wembley Way into a sea of blue and white.
The stage was set and the dream was alive, but, standing in Brighton’s path was a Manchester City side determined to complete a season for the ages.
Brighton Start Brightly But Fail to Capitalise
For long periods of the opening half, Brighton looked anything but underdogs.
Fran Kirby repeatedly found dangerous pockets of space.
Kiko Seike caused problems with her pace and direct running.
Maisie Symonds impressed in midfield and helped Brighton establish control during several phases of play.
Manchester City struggled to create meaningful opportunities and looked unusually vulnerable.
Nnadozie, meanwhile, was alert whenever called upon and commanded her penalty area confidently.
The Seagulls were matching the newly crowned league champions.
Then everything changed.
Eight Minutes Turn the Final Upside Down
After surviving Brighton’s early pressure, Manchester City struck with ruthless efficiency.
In the 38th minute, Jamaican striker, Khadija Shaw rose above the Brighton defence and looped a header beyond Nnadozie to give City the breakthrough.
The goal changed everything.
Suddenly Brighton found themselves chasing the game. Moments later, City delivered another crushing blow.
Captain Alex Greenwood stepped up over a free-kick from approximately 20 yards and curled a magnificent low effort beyond Nnadozie’s desperate dive.
In the space of eight minutes, despite being competitive for much of the first half, Brighton found themselves trailing 2-0 at the interval.
– Read More: How NNADOZIE Stood Tall as Brighton Smash Arsenal to Reach FA Cup Semis
Nnadozie Battles as Champions Show Their Class
The second half highlighted exactly why Manchester City had become Women’s Super League champions for the first time since 2016.
Whenever Brighton attempted to push forward, City punished them.
Nnadozie continued to keep her side in the contest with a string of excellent saves.
The Nigerian international faced ten shots and stopped six of them, repeatedly denying City from extending their lead earlier, but eventually, the pressure became too much.
Shaw, who had already scored the opening goal, turned provider midway through the second half.
The Jamaican forward picked out Japanese star Aoba Fujino, who calmly fired home to make it 3-0.
The goal effectively ended Brighton’s hopes.
Then came the finale.
Dutch superstar Vivianne Miedema, recently back after missing the end of the season due to personal reasons, came off the bench and added a fourth goal late on to complete the rout.
The final whistle confirmed a 4-0 victory for Manchester City and there came celebrations among the champions.
Historic Double Completed
The triumph secured Manchester City’s fourth Women’s FA Cup title and completed the first domestic league-and-cup double in the club’s history.
Three weeks earlier, they had clinched the Women’s Super League title for the first time in a decade.
Now they had added another major trophy.
The victory also crowned an extraordinary first season for Swedish manager, Andree Jeglertz.
The former coach inherited a team that had missed out on Champions League qualification the previous campaign and had slipped down the domestic pecking order.
Twelve months later, City sit firmly at the summit of English women’s football.
Their star striker, Khadija Shaw, who shocked many by committing her future to the club with a new four-year contract just days before the final, played a major role once again.
Captain Alex Greenwood also saved her best for last, scoring her only goal of the season before lifting yet another major trophy.
Greenwood earned the Player of the Match award with an impressive rating of 8.69.
Nnadozie Leaves Wembley With Huge Reputation
Although the scoreline was painful, Nnadozie once again showed why she remains one of Nigeria’s most important players ahead of next month’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The 25-year-old joined Brighton from Paris FC last summer and quickly established herself as one of the league’s elite goalkeepers.
Her performances throughout the season earned her a place in the WhoScored Women’s Super League Team of the Season.
She recorded six clean sheets in 19 league appearances.
More importantly, she became one of the foundations of Brighton’s remarkable rise under Vidosic.
Even at Wembley, against the strongest team in England, Nnadozie continued to fight until the final whistle.
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