With 88 minutes played, Manchester City must have felt like they had one hand on the Women’s Super League title. Lauren Hemp had put them 1-0 against Arsenal and if everything remained as is, they would go into the final day with at least three points ahead of Chelsea. Perhaps thoughts were even beginning to drift to the post-match tribute to their outgoing captain, Steph Houghton.
But five hours later, everything seemed very different. Two goals in three minutes from Swedish striker Stina Blackstenius gave Arsenal a surprise victory and handed a second chance to the one person City wouldn’t want it to fall against. Emma Hayes’ Chelsea refused to let the opportunity slip away and put already relegated Bristol City eight ahead of themselves.
Within 90 minutes, Manchester City’s considerable goal difference advantage was erased. Chelsea knew they had to win by seven to draw level with City – they did better. That left Hayes on the Kingsmeadow pitch telling fans it wasn’t “over”, just four days after essentially conceding the title to City following a 4-3 defeat to Liverpool.
The atmosphere in south-west London had been particularly tense, with Chelsea supporters not only saying goodbye to Hayes – who will become USWNT head coach this summer – but also to the club’s long-time servants, the English striker Fran Kirby and Norwegian defender Maren Mjelde. . Add to that Arsenal’s late goals and before kick-off it was fair to say that all of Kingsmeadow was focused on one thing: scoring goals.
It took Chelsea a while to get going – just a Guro Reiten penalty and a scrambled finish from Sjoeke Nusken in the first half – but the intensity increased after the break as Reiten, in particular, did all he could possible. The Norwegian winger has struggled to return to her form from last season, but in the space of 72 minutes on Sunday, she more than doubled her WSL goal tally for the season, taking her tally from three to seven Aggie Beever-Jones also chipped in with two more to take her league tally to 11. Lauren James is the only English player with more in the league.
As Chelsea fans chanted “We want nine”, it was a raucous feeling compared to the tenor at the Joie Stadium earlier in the day. You wouldn’t believe that in many ways this remains an advantage for City, with Gareth Taylor’s side still holding a three-point lead over Chelsea. Hayes’ team’s current match will take place at Tottenham Hotspur in nine days’ time.
However, the move in goal difference means that if Hayes’ side beat Spurs, City would need to improve on Chelsea’s final matchday scoreline by more than two goals. Both teams are playing away, with City traveling to Aston Villa and Chelsea traveling to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, who could face their own version of Arsenal’s dilemma: a positive result could hand their rival the champion title. Arsenal remained enthusiastic despite everything and City’s hopes could depend on United doing the same.
What you may have missed
With eyes firmly on the title race, at Prenton Park Liverpool were attempting to secure a surprise fourth place. After taking three points against Chelsea in midweek, their match against Manchester United was a quieter but no less successful affair. Jenna Clark’s first-half header – again from a corner after scoring three in this manner against Chelsea – secured all three points for Matt Beard’s side.
It means Liverpool have taken an impressive 12 points from their matches against the other top four teams, having completed the double against United and claimed victories against Chelsea and Arsenal. That’s more points from the top four than league leaders City managed to secure. Manchester United, on the other hand, only managed to accumulate five points from the six teams in the first half.
Goal of the week
Everton full-back Sara Holmgaard unleashed a superb strike against Tottenham to give her side a 2-0 lead. Although the opposition eventually brought the score back to 2-2, Holmgaard’s result was an outstanding display from a player who truly flourished towards the end of the season.
Just after the nomination of Player of the Month 🔥
Sara Holmgaard is also in great shape @EvertonWomen!#BarclaysWSL pic.twitter.com/x3FVOxyXnc
– Barclays Women’s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 4, 2024
The 25-year-old Danish international replaced the absence left by Gabby George’s last-minute departure to Manchester United and now appears firmly established in the WSL. After a difficult season for Everton, Holmgaard is one of many bright sparks for Brian Sorensen and his team going forward.
Time of the week
Aston Villa manager Carla Ward announced this week that she will step down at the end of the season. The 40-year-old has been at the club for three seasons, having been signed following an impressive spell at Birmingham City, but decided to leave the role to spend more time with her family.
Villa have not always had an easy time this season, but the club has remained loyal to Ward. Despite failing to win any of her first five matches this season, it was clear that her fifth-place finish last year had plenty of merit, with the club trying to persuade her to stay.
They won 1-0 at Brighton thanks to a goal from Alisha Lehmann in Ward’s penultimate game.
Elsewhere in Europe
The title races ended in Germany and Spain, where Bayern Munich and Barcelona won their championships.
Eintracht Frankfurt also moved into pole position to secure Germany’s third place in the Champions League with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over rivals Hoffenheim, who are four points behind in fourth with two games in hand. play.
In France, Paris Saint-Germain won the Coupe de France after beating Fleury 1-0 despite French defender Thiniba Samoura being sent off in the 66th minute. Dutch striker Lieke Martens scored the winner seven minutes later.
To be continued
All eyes are on this weekend’s FA Cup final as either Tottenham or Manchester United make history by becoming a brand new trophy winner at a sold-out Wembley.
(Top photo: Tom Dulat – La FA/La FA via Getty Images)