Manchester United 0-1 Chelsea: Blues win sixth straight WSL title in thrilling encounter | OneFootball

Chelsea clinched the WSL title after coming out on top in a pulsating match against Manchester United.

After Arsenal suffered a shock 5-2 defeat to Aston Villa earlier on Wednesday night, Chelsea knew one point at Leigh Sports Village would secure a sixth consecutive Barclays Women’s Super League title.

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The Blues bounced back from a humiliating Champions League exit to Barcelona, but it was not easy for them. United not only held out the champions-elect for 74 minutes, but had the better chances. However, Sonia Bompastor’s Blues showed the ability to snatch a win from nothing that has served them so well throughout the season and Lucy Bronze’s glancing header was enough to seal the league. United missed the chance to secure Champions League qualification, and must try to do so against Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday.

As it happened

This title decider crackled from the off, with the challenges from the opening minute making plain that both sides knew what was on the line. For Chelsea, even a point would seal the title, while Untied knew a first-ever league win over Chelsea would book their European place. A draw would have set United in good stead to qualify, but neither side showed any intention of settling for a point.

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Chelsea won half-chances throughout the opening stages, but United showed the defensive credentials that have kept them 13 clean sheets in 19 Women’s Super League games this season. The Blues had a spanner thrown in their attacking works 25 minutes in as Mayra Ramirez was forced off injured, replaced by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd. They dominated the ball but lacked a finishing touch and only managed two shots on target.

United threatened to undo their hard work several times on the break, with Melvine Malard bursting through in the 16th and 37th minutes but thwarted by England and Chelsea stopper Hannah Hampton. The Reds had a minority of the ball but the pick of the chances, and felt hard done by not to have one from the penalty spot. On the stroke of halftime, Millie Bright clipped Grace Clinton to bring her down in the box – but referee Abigail Byrne waved away United’s appeals.

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Momentum stayed with the hosts at the start of the second half, with Hampton called into action to deny Celin Bizet at close range. Not to be outdone, Tullis-Joyce pulled off a triple-save in the 55th minute to squash Chelsea’s first chance of the half, first parrying Aggie Beever-Jones’ curling effort before twice denying a rebound.

Marc Skinner replaced Malard with Terland and Clinton with Ella Toone, as Sonia Bompastor introduced Sjoeke Nüsken for Erin Cuthbert with half an hour remaining. Terland almost scored an exquisite opener five minutes later, looping an effort just over the crossbar.

United were much the better team, but Chelsea showed why they are champions: that ability to create something from nothing. Despite barely having a chance in the second half, they only needed one – Lucy Bronze rose highest at a corner to glance home a header way out of Tullis-Joyce’s reach, and it would ultimately seal the title.

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The remaining fifteen minutes and seven for stoppages weren’t enough for United to salvage a point, let alone the three that would have made Chelsea wait for the title. The Blues’ WSL coronation – for the second season in a row – was confirmed on the red side of Manchester.

The lineups

MUN: Tullis-Joyce; George, Turner, Le Tissier, Riviere; Janssen, Miyazawa, Clinton; Galton, Malard, Bizet

CHE: Hampton; Charles, Girma, Bright, Bronze; Kaptein, Cuthbert, Walsh; Baltimore, Ramírez, Beever-Jones