USWNT Duo Helps Manchester City To FA Cup Final
Samantha Mewis Scores Game-Winning Goal, Rose Lavelle Makes Manchester City Debut in 2-1 FA Cup Semifinal Win Against Arsenal
U.S. Women’s National Team midfielders and World Cup champions Samantha Mewis and Rose Lavelle will have the opportunity to play for another major trophy after helping Manchester City book its spot in the 2020 Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final. Mewis’ first goal for Manchester City proved to be the game-winner, as reigning champions City beat 14-time FA Cup champion Arsenal, 2-1, in Thursday night’s semifinal.
“Arsenal was a really tough opportunity and the intensity of this game was really high,” said Mewis after the match. “I’m just really proud of the girls for pulling out the win. We really had to grind it out in the second half, but I think it was a great team effort. I’m just really proud to be a part of this tournament and to get to go back to Wembley and compete there again.”
WATCH: Mewis Tallies Game-Winning Goal
Mewis, who made her Manchester City debut at Wembley on August 29 in the Community Shield, made her third start in all competitions for City and was dominant in the midfield all match. Her efforts were rewarded in the 41st minute when she finished with an authoritative strike inside the area after a layoff from England international Ellen White. The goal put City back in front after Arsenal tied the game in the 38th minute and made Mewis the first USWNT player to score the game-winning goal in an FA Cup semifinal.
Lavelle joined Mewis in the midfield in the second half, replacing White in the 65th to make her Manchester City debut.
WATCH: Lavelle Makes Debut
Manchester City will face Everton in the FA Cup Final on Sunday, November 1 at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium. Both clubs will be looking to capture their third FA Cup title. USWNT forward Carli Lloyd helped Manchester City capture its first Women’s FA Cup title in 2017 and scored in the final against Birmingham City. The USWNT was also well-represented in the 2018 Women’s FA Cup final, when World Cup champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist Heather O’Reilly came on for Arsenal in its 3-1 loss to Chelsea. Manchester City will be looking to win back-to-back FA Cups after taking down West Ham, 3-0, in 2019.