Manchester United Women 0-6 Chelsea Women
Winning five league titles in a row may never be repeated in the professional era. But it’s a feat achieved by Chelsea Women, and it has capped Emma Hayes’ glorious reign.
Despite a slender goal advantage over Man City, most pundits felt the Blues had the harder task on the closing day, travelling to Old Trafford to face FA Cup winners Manchester United.
On paper, City looked likelier to win by a hefty margin at Villa Park against an Aston Villa side only playing for the pride of their own departing manager, Carla Ward.
But Chelsea rattled six goals past a bewildered United, in front of nearly 30,000 spectators, and City could only scrape a 2-1 win.
Amid fireworks and streamers at the away corner of Old Trafford, Emma Hayes and captain Millie Bright raised the Women’s Super League trophy between them, cueing emotional scenes on the pitch and in the stands.
Though level on points with City, Chelsea’s superior tallies in the goals scored and goal difference columns meant they were champions for the fifth season in a row.
And with Mayra Ramirez – back as a starter after a four-game injury absence – leading the line, and Sam Kerr likely to be fit again in September, who’d bet against Chelsea, under a new manager, adding a sixth title in this incredible sequence.
Ramirez was back to her bolshy, brilliant best, out-muscling opponents to head home Guro Reiten’s cross for an opener inside two minutes, past England's No1 keeper Mary Earps.
Then Ramirez set up Johanna Rytting Kaneryd for Chelsea’s second before providing the assist for sub Sjoeke Nusken to add a third. Ramirez ended all doubts with a dazzling fourth – the pick of the day’s goals – after brushing aside two defenders and firing beyond Earps' grasp.
Two more goals followed in front of Chelsea’s travelling army in the second half, with Mellie Leupolz scoring before, inevitably, Fran Kirby came on as sub to put the cherry on the icing on the cake with her final goal for Chelsea on her final match for the club.
Hayes can now close her eyes as she settles into her first-class seat to the States and picture the Chelsea trophy cabinet containing seven WSL trophies, five FA Cups, two Conti Cups, one Community Shield and the one-and-only Spring Series cup.
“I’m just so relieved it’s over,” she admitted after leading the players on a lap of honour, with son Harry by her side. “I can’t say it’s my most enjoyable [title], but it’s definitely been the toughest, and for that reason, probably the sweetest.”
She added that she felt her legacy at Chelsea was building a team for the future – a chilling statement for every other WSL manager playing catch-up.
Erin Cuthbert, a regular wearer of the captain’s armband during Bright’s prolonged injury spell, said she felt the strain and stress of this title tilt had knocked 10 years off her life!
“It’s the hardest one yet, so I’m going to enjoy tonight,” she promised. “I don’t know how many times people have written us off this season… but we always find a way.”
Meanwhile Kirby said that it was nice to come on in a game already won, “where you can relax and just express yourself and be a part of it”.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
