A TOURNAMENT that began in August 2019 will finally reach its conclusion next month when Everton face Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

One of Everton’s targets at the beginning of the season, all those months ago, was to reach the Wembley showcase.

An impressive unbeaten run following the resumption of the 2019-20 cup competition has seen them do just that.

Willie Kirk’s side have won all four of their games since competitive football resumed last month, including two wins out of two to start the 2020-21 Women’s Super League season.

The most memorable of those four victories was their FA Cup quarter-final win against Chelsea at Goodison Park.

This was the key game in their quest to reach the final and, despite going behind to an Erin Cuthbert goal and facing a barrage of attacks early on, they showed great character to come back and win the game.

Having headed a shot off the line while defending that wave of Chelsea pressure, Lucy Graham then put Everton level with a diving header from Ingrid Moe Wold’s cross at the other end. 

Lively Australian forward Hayley Raso delivered for substitute Valerie Gauvin to do the same and secure a massive win for the Toffees.

Though their semi-final opponents, Birmingham City, were not considered as tough a challenge as that which they faced in the previous round, they needed to get the job done in a professional manner nevertheless.

This time the early pressure was all theirs but they had to wait until just before half-time to get the opener. A neat through-ball from Izzy Christiansen found Simone Magill who gave the pass the finish it deserved.

Wold once again provided an effective attacking outlet down the right, putting in a precise cross to the far post where Nicoline Sorensen was on hand to turn the ball home. 

The job was completed when Gauvin finished from Molly Pike’s through-ball after Christiansen stole the ball in midfield.

Christiansen won the Champions League during her time with Olympique Lyonnais and will be hoping to take that winning mentality with her to the final on November 1, where she will face another of her former clubs, Manchester City.

“We’re all delighted, it’s been a collective effort,” Christiansen told the BBC following the win against Birmingham in Solihull.

“When I signed for Everton in January the first objective was to get to Wembley. There’s obviously a big, fat tick next to that now.

“There was so much belief coming off the back of our win against Chelsea. 

“We had a very quick turnaround but we’ve recovered, applied ourselves in training and adapted to a new game plan. 

“I think we were the stronger side on the day.”

The FA’s persistence with this competition, despite the quarter-finals having to be played six months after their original date, has paid off on the pitch with some dramatic moments, not least Gauvin’s winner against Chelsea.

The only downside is that the final will be played behind closed doors with no spectators present.

Many European countries are now beginning to allow supporters back into games at the top level, but the UK’s failure to deal with Covid-19 is having a knock-on effect on football, sport in general, and supporters.

Fans who had already bought tickets for the final will receive a full refund and the final will be shown on free-to-air TV, with the 2.30pm kick-off currently scheduled to be broadcast live on BBC1.

“A significant amount of work has been going on behind the scenes to ensure The Women’s FA Cup can be completed and I am delighted that we have received the necessary approval for its conclusion,” said FA director of the women’s professional game, Kelly Simmons after the tournament got the green light to restart.

“The Women’s FA Cup is a showpiece fixture in the football calendar and because of that there was huge appetite within the FA for the three remaining rounds to be played. 

“We welcome the opportunity for a champion to be crowned at Wembley Stadium.”

Everton have won the cup twice previously, in 1989 when they were known as Leasowe Pacific, and most recently in 2010 when they beat Arsenal in the final.

They play Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League tomorrow and have four games to play before they make the trip down to Wembley.

They will be looking to continue their unbeaten run as the anticipation builds, and will be hoping to end an impressive spell with some silverware.