da gbg bet： The England star has plenty of great memories under the arch with the Lionesses and, starting on Sunday, she'll hope to add some with the Red Devils
da dobrowin： Almost two years ago, Ella Toone announced herself on one of the biggest stages possible when her delightful finish put England ahead in the 2022 Women's Euro final. It set the Lionesses on their way to a first major title, one which was certainly the most significant of Toone's career, too.
On Sunday she'll return to Wembley, to the scene of that triumph and a venue where she has some record, looking to inspire Manchester United to a memorable day out of their own.
Twelve months ago, on the Red Devils’ first appearance in the Women’s FA Cup final, Chelsea proved too much, Pernille Harder coming off the bench to inspire the Blues to a third successive title. However, things are a little different on their return to this big occasion. Last year, United were the underdogs. This weekend, against a Tottenham side playing their maiden Women’s FA Cup final, they will be the favourites.
It's not a tag United have worn too many times when chasing silverware, having only returned to the women's game six years ago. It brings with it pressure and the expectation to deliver on the day. Fortunately, there are a few players in their squad well-equipped to deal with all of that – and Toone is prime among them.
Getty ImagesBig-game player
There are numerous examples of Toone rising to the occasion since that goal in the Euros final two years ago, which came just 11 days after her crucial equaliser in the quarter-finals against Spain when the Lionesses were six minutes away from elimination.
When United sent a warning of their unexpected title challenge by beating Arsenal at the Emirates at the start of last season, Toone broke the deadlock. When England took on Brazil in the Women's Finalissima – also at Wembley – the playmaker was first on the scoresheet once more. When the Lionesses faced Women's World Cup co-hosts Australia in the semi-finals in Sydney last summer, it was again Toone who kickstarted the victory.
There are so many of these moments that can be drawn upon, including the silky assist for Rachel Williams' match-winning header against Chelsea in their FA Cup semi-final match-up last month. If you were going to bank on someone proving decisive on Sunday, then, you might well look Toone's way.
AdvertisementGettyDifficult season
That's despite United being rather out-of-sorts. The Red Devils have had a dreadful season on all fronts, bar the FA Cup. Elimination at the first hurdle in Women's Champions League qualifying and failure to reach the knockout stages of the Continental Cup were both disappointments that could possibly be excused, given the former involved defeat to eventual semi-finalists Paris Saint-Germain and the latter was a bit of bad luck as a points deduction elsewhere stopped them progressing.
However, there are no excuses for the way this team has performed in the Women's Super League this season. After challenging for the title last term, United are now in a scrap for fourth place, a position which doesn't even secure European football. They were out of the title race before Christmas, long shots in the battle for the top three by mid-February and could now finish fifth after defeat to Liverpool last weekend.
GettyIndividual improvements
Despite that, Toone has managed to have a strong season on an individual basis, owing to her ability to produce a moment of magic even when things aren't going her or her team's way. Her goal tally has jumped from three to eight in all competitions this time around, while she's also registered more assists than she managed last year.
That's even more impressive given the 24-year-old came into the season struggling for form. A wonder-strike at Brighton back in November was the catalyst for change, and though her contributions haven't been able to stop United's downfall in the WSL, they have been a key factor in their run to the FA Cup final.
Getty ImagesUp for the cup
It was Toone who kickstarted wins over Newcastle and Southampton in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively, of this season's FA Cup – but the most notable contribution came in the semi-finals, when they faced Chelsea. Head coach Marc Skinner set his team up differently, asking them to play a more direct and transitional game than they usually would while sacrificing the role as the dominant team in possession, meaning more emphasis was on defending and keeping Chelsea out. “Tooney before half-time was going, 'Gaffer, I'm doing doggies!'” he said in his post-match press conference. “But she knew why.”
Man Utd’s No.7 wasn’t the only player whose influence on the game was limited by her lack of involvement, with her touching the ball just 18 times in 64 minutes on the pitch, but it was what she did in her rare moments of possession that counted, particularly on the 23-minute mark.
Under pressure from Melanie Leupolz right on the touchline, she used her strength and neat footwork to get the better of her opponent, turning her before using the space created to deliver an inch-perfect cross into the box for Williams to head home. It established a 2-0 deficit that Chelsea would not come back from, as United got some revenge for defeat in last year’s final to pip them to a place at Wembley.