🏅 WSL Awards: Late drama, chaotic club, Mother Hen | OneFootball

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Lewis Ambrose·21 November 2022

🏅 WSL Awards: Late drama, chaotic club, Mother Hen

Article image:🏅 WSL Awards: Late drama, chaotic club, Mother Hen

Another WSL weekend packed with storylines? You bet!

Here are our awards from the last WSL matchday ahead of the international break …


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The Leaving it Late Award

Having lost to Chelsea last week, Manchester United had to travel to north London and the Emirates Stadium to respond. Having taken the lead, their task became even more daunting when they went 2-1 down on 73 minutes.

Step up Katie Zelem. Two perfect crosses were met by two perfect headers, one from Millie Turner in the 85th minute and one from Alessia Russo in added time, to turn the game on its head.

Suddenly, United and Arsenal are both on 18 points and each have a game in hand on new WSL leaders Chelsea, who are three points clear. We have a title tussle on our hands.


The Losing it Late Award

It’s now eight games and eight defeats for Leicester at the bottom of the table.

The real kicker is that this weekend’s defeat to West Ham just served to confirm some horrid patterns. It was the fifth time they’ve lost by just one goal and the third time the winner has come in the 88th minute or later.

The Foxes are competing with teams, they just need to hang on for a few more minutes and points will be on the way.


The Award for Most Chaotic Energy

Brighton’s post-Hope Powell era is serving chaos. Wow.

Last weekend they had that wild 5-4 win at West Ham. This weekend it was a 3-3 draw with Liverpool, having led 3-1 at half-time and been ahead as added time began.

Amy Merricks, keep doing what you are doing in the dugout, because the entertainment is unrivalled.


The ‘Mother Hen’ Award

Emma Hayes back in the dugout as Chelsea beat Tottenham in front of 38,000 fans at Stamford Bridge and she did not have much worrying to do.

“I chilled out like I was sat on the sofa — at least for the portions of the game that might stress the team out,” Hayes said after the game.

“I’m trying to manage — but in a calm manner, I might add. I feel like a bit of a mother-hen coming back. Everyone is still operating and doing what they were doing while I’m away. But I’m just chiming in and being the leader.”

No wonder she feels so good, Sunday’s win took the Blues to the top of the table for the first time this season.


The Goals Goals Goals Award

One goal and one assist in the 2-1 win over Everton saw Bunny Shaw continue her sensational start to the season with Manchester City — the striker still has more goals than appearances this season.

But one player is capable of keeping up. A Rachel Daly hat-trick took her to eight goals for the season (in just seven games) to go level with Shaw at the top of the goalscoring chance.

Nobody else in the league has more than four goals.