| 2006 FA Women's Cup Final | |
| Event: | 2005–06 FA Women's Cup |
| Team1: | Arsenal Ladies |
| Team1score: | 5 |
| Team2: | Leeds United |
| Team2score: | 0 |
| Stadium: | The Den |
| City: | London |
| Woman Player1: | Lianne Sanderson |
| Referee: | Phil Crossley (Kent) |
| Attendance: | 13,452[1] |
| Previous: | 2005 |
| Next: | 2007 |
The 2006 FA Women's Cup Final was the 36th final of the FA Women's Cup, England's primary cup competition for women's football teams. It was the 13th final to be held under the direct control of the Football Association (FA). The final was contested between Arsenal and Leeds United on 1 May 2006 at The Den in New Cross, London.[2] Leeds United made its first final appearance. Arsenal entered a seventh final having won the trophy on all six previous occasions.
Unbeaten League champions Arsenal entered the match as strong favourites,[3] in a contest billed as a contrast of styles. The match attracted a crowd of 13,452 and was broadcast live on BBC One.[4] Goals from Fleeting, Yankey and Sanderson, added to Lucy Ward's early own goal and Kelly Smith's penalty, gave Arsenal an emphatic 5–0 win which secured their seventh FA Cup win and a third "double" in six seasons.[5] [6]
Leeds United legend Allan Clarke presented the women's team with sock tags before the match, similar to those famously worn by the Leeds United male team in their 1972 FA Cup Final victory, in a bid to give the team luck.[7]
Arsenal took the lead after three minutes, when Leeds's Lucy Ward – playing out of position at centre-back[8] – miscued a clearance then headed the resultant corner past her own goalkeeper Gemma Fay. On 34 minutes Julie Fleeting made it 2–0, by running onto Lianne Sanderson's pass and shooting low past Fay. One minute later it was 3–0 as Rachel Yankey's attempted cross[9] from a free kick from the right wing sailed over the head of Gemma Fay, who misjudged the flight of the ball.[10]
Fay made several saves to keep the score down, but Arsenal continued to dominate. Leeds manager Julie Chipchase later admitted tactical errors in assigning Nicole Emmanuel a marking job on Kelly Smith and bringing Nat Preston back for her first game since a serious injury in January. Leeds striker Karen Walker was isolated and unable to make an impression in her final game before her retirement.[11] Leeds's best chances were two speculative efforts from Karen Burke, which failed to trouble Arsenal's goalkeeper Emma Byrne.[12]
On 73 minutes, Leeds's 16 year old winger Jess Clarke tripped Yankey to concede a penalty kick which Kelly Smith, playing in her first FA Cup final, converted to make it 4–0. Lianne Sanderson then made a solo dribble down the right wing and shot past Fay to make the score 5–0 on 77 minutes. With five minutes remaining Leeds substituted Karen Walker, who left the pitch for the final time to a standing ovation.[13] Sanderson was named Player of the Match by the BBC television match summariser Marieanne Spacey.[14]
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| width=50% valign=top | Player of the match
Match officials
| width=50% valign=top | Match rules
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