Reaction, analysis and what's next for Brighton Women after tasting defeat in the FA Cup Final

While a promising opening from the Albion looked to spell trouble for Manchester City, the Women’s Super League champions’ quality shone through at Wembley Stadium to seal a 4-0 victory.

Left-back Alex Greenwood and Khadija “Bunny” Shaw proved the key to unlocking the contest in the first half, with the former delivering a cross into the box for Shaw to rise highest and nod past Chiamaka Nnadozie in the 38th minute.

Greenwood soon clinched her first goal of the campaign on the stroke of half-time, with the City skipper dipping her free-kick past the Brighton wall and into the bottom-right corner. 

The second goal really was the punch to the gut that the Seagulls could truly have done without, not least for the fact the Cityzens then had something to fight for – and add to. 

City substitutes Aoba Fujino and Vivianne Miedema proved lively after entering the field in the 61st minute, with it taking just five minutes for the former to find the back of the net.

The Japanese forward shifted the ball past a delayed challenge from Brighton’s Maisie Symonds before striking her effort into the right-hand side of the goal. 

While Seagulls goalkeeper Nnadozie produced two terrific stops to deny a fierce strike from Shaw and a long-range effort from Fujino, the Nigerian failed to get significant purchase on her parry for Miedema’s header for City’s fourth. 

With just three minutes of normal time remaining, the forward latched onto a cross from Kerstin Casparij, nodding the ball down and into the net to seal City’s domestic double.

In spite of the scoreline, the Seagulls never stopped pushing to find a breakthrough, with forwards Kiko Seike and Madison Haley producing Albion’s best second-half attempts as they forced Ayaka Yamashita into low saves at her near post. 

While the Albion forward didn’t quite manage to secure her sixth goal in seven matches, Haley fought throughout the contest to make an impression in the No.9 role. 

The forward demonstrated her intent from the start, latching onto a pass ahead of an onrushing Yamashita, with the ricochet off the goalkeeper falling into the path of Brighton’s Marisa Olislagers. 

While the Dutchwoman’s strike was denied on the goal line, and Haley’s challenge on Yamashita was then deemed a foul, it was a warning sign to the Cityzens of the American’s threat in behind.

Haley continued to show her strength to hold up the ball, missing two opportunities to clinch a late consolation goal in stoppage time. The 27-year-old’s initial shot was denied by Yamashita’s knees, before the forward then failed to direct her header goalward. 

With the scoreline not on Haley or the Albion’s side as City proved the more clinical, the Adobe Women’s Player of the Match award was given to Greenwood.

The left-back turned the tide in the favour of the Cityzens after a passive opening half an hour, with Greenwood delivering the pinpoint cross for Shaw’s opener and then executing her free-kick well to beat Nnadozie. 

The Brighton Base review how the Seagulls performed during their 4-0 defeat at Wembley Stadium…

Chiamaka Nnadozie: 5  Unconvincing from the Nigerian for each goal conceded, most significantly when leaving a lot of space to her right whilst positioning the wall for Greenwood’s free-kick. Made a terrific save to deny Shaw a brace.

Charlie Rule: 5  Did well in the opening exchanges but soon struggled to contain Hemp, including for Shaw’s goal. Tired in the second half and was replaced by Mpomé in the 71st minute.  

Caitlin Hayes: 5  A strong start to the contest, but later outpaced by Shaw for City’s third goal of the afternoon as the centre-back showed signs of fatigue.

Moeka Minami: 4  Contributed to the build-up in the first half, but failed to track Shaw for the opening goal – although always unlikely to reach the ball ahead of the towering striker. Didn’t get tight enough to Miedema as she headed past Nnadozie. 

Manuela Vanegas: 6  Showed positive signs in the first half, driving forward to support Albion’s attacks. Should have crossed rather than shot when striding into the City penalty area on one occasion, and later powered her header wide. 

Maisie Symonds: 6 Carried the ball upfield at times, and offered several promising deliveries. Fired a strike over the bar as the captain attempted to secure her first goal of the campaign. 

Jelena Čanković: 5  Looked promising in the initial exchanges and, as always, tried to apply pressure in the midfield. 

Marisa Olislagers: 5  Pressed high in a dominant early spell from Brighton and had a shot cleared off the line by Greenwood. 

Fran Kirby: 5  Had a promising opportunity in the first half but failed to capitalise. Grew in frustration throughout as she failed to provide the key pass to unlock City’s defence. 

Kiko Seike: 5  Did well to outpace Greenwood on the flank and provided several shots. Struggled to create the same impression in the second half. 

Madison Haley: 6  Showed the most intent and provided a tough battle for the City defence. Came closest to scoring late on with her strike at goal.

Substitutes

Maelys Mpomé: 5  Replaced Rule in the 71st minute. Difficult entering late in the contest as City added a fourth goal in the closing stages.

Rosa Kafaji: 4  Replaced Seike in the 71st minute. Couldn’t make the desired impact as Brighton searched for a late consolation. 

Rachel McLauchlan: N/A  Introduced for Olislagers in the 79th minute. 

Nadine Noordam: N/A  Replaced Kirby in the 80th minute. 

Bex Rayner: N/A Introduced for Symonds with two minutes of normal time remaining. 

Following the 4-0 defeat, Brighton head coach Dario Vidošić reflected on his side’s display at Wembley Stadium.

“I’m proud of the performance. For a lot of the players, a first time being at Wembley and the occasion and being in an FA Cup Final. And then you’ve got to play the Champions of England as well,” Vidošić told BBC Radio Sussex.

“For the first 30 minutes, I thought we were really good, the dominant team. We created some good chances, but just unfortunately some last-ditch tackles or the last pass perhaps let us down. On another day, if we go 1-0 up, you just never know.

“But I think overall really, really proud, especially with the steps we’ve been taking to have that performance for large periods today is very, very pleasing.

“I can’t fault the girls at all, they tried everything, and they gave everything for the badge… I feel for the girls as they didn’t deserve that scoreline.”

Vidošić was also quick to praise the Albion supporters, who travelled in numbers to the capital for the occasion, saying: “The fans were unbelievable, not just today but all season. 

“They’ve travelled with us everywhere, all over the country, and it was really nice to see. I’m sure that played a massive part when we walked out, so credit to them, they helped us with our performance today. We’re very sorry that we couldn’t give them more to celebrate unfortunately.”

Kirby also spoke to the media at full-time, admitting she was ‘disappointed with the scoreline’, but proud of the way her teammates performed. 

“It’s just the fine margins, and obviously we know with the calibre of players that they have. If they get a chance with Bunny Shaw, she’s going to take it,” Kirby explained. 

“It was a bit of a deflation in that moment because we knew how well we were playing. But we came out in the second half knowing we played really well and let’s keep it going, and yeah the game got away from us in the second half.”

The playmaker held a promising opportunity in the first half but failed to get her shot away before goalkeeper Yamashita swept in to clear the danger, with Kirby reflecting: “It’s one of them ones when you get yourself in those positions, and you want to do what you can, but it’s difficult against a team like Manchester City. 

“You’re not going to get them chances a lot, and I’m a bit disappointed that I wasn't able to connect with it a little bit better, but that’s football.” 

While chances were few and far between in the second half for Brighton, the FA Cup Final debutants will certainly rue their missed opportunities from the first half. 

Kirby found herself in a strong position inside the box in the 27th minute, but opted to try and round Yamashita instead of shooting first-time, allowing the City goalkeeper to clear the ball away from the midfielder.

Play did then fall to Seike, but Albion’s taliswoman couldn’t keep her composure as she sliced her half-volley over the bar. 

Left-back Vanegas also made a superb driving run minutes before the interval, but chose to shoot rather than cross towards the onrushing Haley and Seike at the far post.

Such disappointing decision-making isn’t unfamiliar for Brighton, with head coach Vidošić often admitting his players need to choose better options and be more decisive with their actions in the final third.  

The Australian attempted to address the issue by introducing winger Kafaji with just under 20 minutes remaining, but the substitute failed to impress in what concluded a difficult campaign for the Arsenal loanee.

Meanwhile, striker Carla Camacho did not enter the field throughout the match in a surprise omission by Vidošić.

While the 21-year-old has struggled to hold down the No. 9 role as she adapts to the English game, the Spaniard is typically introduced to test tiring defences with her determination and agility. 

Vidošić will have plenty to ponder over as he reviews his side’s display over the weekend, in particular how the club can address their struggles in the final third ahead of the new campaign.

After concluding the 2025/26 season with a historic trip to Wembley Stadium, Brighton will surely look to build on what has been another campaign of development under head coach Vidošić. 

As often felt by the supporters, and no less so than during Sunday’s final, the side are severely lacking an experienced, clinical striker. Signing a centre-forward, perhaps such as Bethany England following her departure from Tottenham Hotspur, will be one of the club’s top priorities during the summer transfer window.

Brighton will hope to retain wingers Haley and Seike, with the latter excelling in the striker role during the run-in. Meanwhile, Seike has bettered her goal tally of six from last season with eight conversions and two assists this WSL campaign. 

Another key player in this season’s journey has certainly been Kirby, with the midfielder crafting many of Albion’s attacks. The 32-year-old assisted both goals against Arsenal during Brighton’s cup victory, and recorded a further two assists in the 3-2 triumph over Manchester City.

The club will be keen to retain Kirby for the final year of her contract, however, if she were to depart or hang up her boots, a marquee replacement capable of leading by example on and off the pitch would be required.

A question mark also hangs over the future of Symonds, with the 23-year-old’s contract expiring this month. Since joining in 2021, the defensive midfielder has cemented herself as one of the first names on the teamsheet, and is much-loved among the Albion supporters. 

This season, the captain has also often been lauded by her teammates for leading, and more importantly supporting, the side during what has been a difficult season off-pitch due to the passing of several players’ loved ones. 

A beautiful tifo was held aloft on Sunday as the two teams walked onto the pitch, with the message ‘Father, coach, mentor. We hope we made you proud’ a moving tribute to Dario’s late father and Head of Women’s and Girls’ Coaching, Rado Vidošić. 

If the Seagulls can retain the services of their core players whilst signing a striker and replacing those who depart, they can certainly build on an incredible cup run and almost equally historic WSL campaign.