For the fourth season in a row, the Ladies’s Tremendous League (WSL) title race went all the way down to the final day. And for the fourth time in a row, Chelsea emerged victorious to say their fifth-consecutive trophy as legendary supervisor Emma Hayes bowed out in model.
Elsewhere, the highest six of Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, and Tottenham all ran out winners to maintain the WSL desk unchanged from the way it stood heading into the final matchday, whereas Lyon claimed one more title after the inaugural playoff last in France.
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Chelsea triumph; Man United abysmal
There are few groups on the planet nearly as good as staying the course, grinding by means of video games and getting throughout the end line as Emma Hayes’ Chelsea. Going into the ultimate recreation in opposition to Man United stage on factors with Man Metropolis, figuring out all they wanted to do was equal or higher their rivals’ consequence to say the title, the ball was at all times within the Blues’ court docket. However they signed off in model with a 6-0 thrashing of United at Previous Trafford.
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With club-record signing Mayra RamÃrez just about unstoppable as she got here again from harm to steer the cost — serving to herself to 2 objectives in a 4-0 first-half efficiency — Chelsea have been ruthlessly dominant and achingly scientific. The main target was at all times going to be on them, and departing supervisor Hayes in her last recreation earlier than she takes cost of the USWNT, nevertheless it’s onerous to get away from simply how poor United have been.
Sure, United’s season was all however finished — that they had gained the FA Cup final weekend and confronted an unbelievable scenario to say fourth spot from Liverpool — however their defence supplied little resistance and was fully overwhelmed by Chelsea from the early phases.
Having taken an enormous step final season to lean into their defensive core and go toe-to-toe with the highest three to complete second, this capitulation in opposition to the eventual champions was dire and spoke to how far United have regressed this season.
Metropolis lose their manner in entrance of aim
Metropolis had an opportunity to win their first WSL title since 2016, nevertheless it was at all times going to require both a Chelsea stumble or an enormous scoreline to tip the scales on aim distinction.
Gareth Taylor’s assault, who had been so constant this 12 months, wanted to be at their greatest in Villa’s field however appeared misplaced with out injured WSL top-scorer Bunny Shaw to steer the road. Mary Fowler’s opener might have opened the floodgates, however Villa’s defence stayed compact and with Anna Leat resolute between the sticks, Metropolis could not discover their crowning glory so as to add the objectives they wanted.
Lauren Hemp did ultimately discover a winner to seal a 2-1 victory, however the title battle had already been misplaced primarily based on occasions at Previous Trafford. Not like Chelsea, Metropolis haven’t got the historical past of combating and scrapping — the season they gained the title was one they went by means of unbeaten — and if they need the identical kind of success the lads’s workforce have discovered, they should develop a profitable mentality.
Villa, for his or her half, did nicely to face up to the stress from the guests however have been unable to present supervisor Carla Ward the send-off she deserved. The membership have come far beneath her management over the previous couple of years however, together with her successor but to be introduced, are heading right into a interval of uncertainty.
Arsenal end on a excessive
The Jonas Eidevall period at Arsenal has seen many good outcomes and performances, in addition to some silverware, nevertheless it’s additionally been deeply inconsistent — one of many causes the Gunners completed 5 factors adrift in third.
In a season which has seen file crowd development for the London workforce and a Conti Cup title, Arsenal have been rampant of their last recreation, beating a forlorn Brighton 5-0 in club-legend Vivianne Miedema’s final recreation. It was one-way site visitors after Alessia Russo’s first-half double and Miedema was capable of get herself on the scoresheet one last time at Borehamwood together with her first contact after coming off the bench, earlier than establishing Frida Maanum late on to remind everybody of her high quality.
Though it is clear she is not in Eidevall’s plans, the membership and supervisor have now reached a possible crossroads. Questions have been raised over why Arsenal weren’t all in favour of protecting the 27-year-old, who is about to succeed in her peak after recovering from long-term harm, round subsequent season they usually must make some strides to shut the hole on the highest two.
Brighton, in the meantime, have struggled after a summer time of heavy recruitment and funding and, after the sacking of Melissa Phillips in February, have not appeared settled beneath interim supervisor Mikey Harris. For a workforce who had lofty objectives, it seems like a return to the drafting board is required in the event that they wish to compete on the prime stage.
Liverpool cement fourth
Through the years there have been loads of groups out of attain of the standard prime three (Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Metropolis) however pushing to complete within the prime 4, earlier than slipping again the next season. Whereas Man United have constantly set themselves aside from the remainder, Liverpool are actually nicely positioned to make it a five-horse race.
In simply their second season again within the WSL, Matt Beard’s Reds had a strong marketing campaign to complete fourth and their 4-0 win over Leicester Metropolis confirmed as a lot about them because the opposition. Forward early by means of Sophie Román Haug, they did not discover a cushion till after the hour when Leanne Kiernan got here on and fired in a hat trick. There’s nonetheless an extended solution to go for the Merseysiders to usually problem these above them, however their development has been substantial.
The match additionally marked Leicester’s eight consecutive recreation with out a win and, though relegation by no means actually threatened the Foxes, it was a forgettable finish to the season for a workforce with sizable potential. How they rebound following the dismissal of Willie Kirk in April might outline their time period future.
Spurs declare first win of the month
Following the disappointing FA Cup last loss to Man United, and a slim 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in midweek, it was key for Spurs to finish what has been a noteworthy marketing campaign on a excessive. And, after a 3-1 win over West Ham United, it looks like quite a lot of the items are in place for supervisor Robert Vilahamn subsequent season. Bethany England’s half-volley within the fourth minute opened the scoring and after West Ham’s equaliser they discovered a manner again by means of Jess Naz, earlier than Drew Spence scored the aim of the day with a rocket from vary. Sixth place and 31 factors definitely looks like successful after final season’s struggles in opposition to relegation netted them 18.
For second-from-bottom West Ham, it is onerous to see the season in a lot of a optimistic mild. There was enchancment as Rehanne Skinner added some expertise to the workforce however with 4 managers and 6 campaigns within the WSL behind them, there’s a query over their long-term sustainability within the prime flight.
Toffees deepen Robins’ distress
Already relegated after a bruising return to the WSL noticed them end with one win and 6 factors in complete, there was little Bristol Metropolis might do when Everton turned up with their capturing boots on to seal a 4-0 win. It was a convincing win for Brian Sørensen’s workforce, with 4 completely different scorers, and a nod to what’s doable beneath the Danish supervisor, whose palms have been tied by vital harm points all season.
But it surely was an sad punctuation mark on the finish of an extended season for Lauren Smith. The Robins are a cautionary story for any workforce promoted from the Championship because the gulf between the 2 leagues solely appears to be rising.
Lyon declare seventeenth title
France’s Division 1 Féminine wrapped up on Friday with its’ first playoff last to resolve the league winner. In the end there have been few surprises, both over who was within the last — Lyon and PSG each got here by means of semifinals in opposition to fourth-placed Stade de Reims and third-placed Paris FC respectively — or Lyon’s eventual 2-1 win.
It was the seventeenth time in 18 seasons that Lyon have lifted the title (PSG in 2021 the one outlier) as Delphine Cascarino rubberstamped her return to kind with the opening aim earlier than former PSG star Kadidiatou Diani added quick-fire second. Tabitha Chawinga’s second-half strike gave PSG some hope, however Lyon did what they achieve this nicely and closed out the sport.
For Lyon, the match might act as a helpful warm-up forward of their Champions League last in opposition to Barcelona on Saturday night, though the Catalans will probably be a really completely different prospect to face.