LONDON — Chelsea emerged from the tunnel in the second half at Kingsmeadow Stadium on Sunday with just 45 minutes to tackle a Women’s Super Prize season like no other. Before that there was very little. They played sloppily, lacked discipline and lacked tempo. For all their talent, Chelsea head coach Emma Hayes said she feels like replacing some of them.
That is why when looking back on this title-winning season, Chelsea will recall it as a time when they were pushed to the limit like never before. The stakes couldn’t be higher: They played on the final day of a dramatic WSL season, just one point above second place Arsenalwho is playing 21 miles east against West Ham United on the other side of the city. Whoever achieves the better result wins the title. The league even guaranteed a trophy at every two games.
Chelsea go into the game at home with Manchester United on Sundays are the obvious favorites, but nothing quite works out. That’s when WSL’s top scorer, striker Sam Kerrplayed the game into her hands.
She had told her teammates the day before that she was going to score a “worldie”. She envisioned it, confident in her ability to deliver the biggest moments. Her prediction came true: When she missed, she picked up a ball floating in the sky and volleyed with her feeble foot from the edge of the box. That will be the moment when Chelsea turn the tide, when they finally seize the opportunity in front of them. Run wings Guro Reiten put them ahead before Kerr caught the center of the field again, sending another long-range volley into the net.
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It was the perfect way to end a landmark season, one that was certainly the most exciting in WSL history. The tournament can claim its status as the most competitive major women’s tournament in the world as it continues to grow in awe. (Its broadcasting deal with Sky Sports and BBC this season is the most valuable domestic broadcast deal in women’s football.)
And going into the finale, it topped the table as feverish action. There’s drama everywhere: Arsenal and Chelsea chase titles, third place City of Manchester just one point to mark another season Champions League football like fourth place, United hope to take them to it. At Kingsmeadow, Chelsea ended their journey.
It is often difficult to know exactly when title races begin. They are not built, built or manufactured. Instead, they are like a vanishing mist; They are not clear at first before the image appears, and the image comes to life. However, this season’s WSL racing has already begun on opening day. Chelsea faced Arsenal at the Emirates, and the home team won the crucial 3-2. That’s when the heated mind battles between the head coaches of this pair also began.
Hayes gave the stars a break that day – especially Kerr and Fran Kirby, who is still recovering from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games three weeks ago. Arsenal coach Jonas Eidevall, managing in his first WSL game, took the risk to use his best players.
After the game, Hayes made a wise comment: “Arsenal don’t give their players any time off. It’s been a long season, and the reason I say it’s been a long season, yes. , the advantage may be today, but my job is to keep everyone on the pitch for the whole season.”
She was right.
Arsenal got off to a quick start but began to falter around January as commitments to the Champions League increased, while Chelsea became increasingly involved in the campaign. They beat Arsenal in a 3-0 win in last season’s belated FA Cup final, held in December. By March, they had taken the top spot of the standings. Entering the final day of competition, Chelsea have won the past 8 WSL matches. Only once before in history have they won nine games. Arsenal have pushed them to the limit of consistency, to their constant best.
That sets the stage for Sunday. Hayes emphasized consistency in the build-up: It will be a normal week, with the players training and playing as usual, delivering a much-needed win. Chelsea had a clear plan, until United threw a punch in the mouth. Martha Thomas header from a deep free-kick to put her season ahead and send Arsenal goalless, briefly, to the top on goal difference. Arsenal substitute Jordan Nobbs She sat on the bench watching the Chelsea game on her phone, bellowing with excitement as she watched every United goal.
Chelsea hit back when Erin Cuthbert still alive in the box from a corner and threw home a half-pass, half-waist to make the packed family crowd explode. The smart money that should have aided Chelsea (the team that won the domestic treble last season, who became longtime WSL champions) continued to stay motivated and stay calm, but that’s exactly what make this last day interesting. The pressure once again took its damage and suddenly reigned supreme. Chelsea’s passes were not as sharp as usual, their attacks unnaturally pressed. Within 10 minutes, United took the lead with a volley from the front post Ella Toone.
Chelsea, then, were finally pushed to their absolute limit. Hayes adjusted his form in the first half and put in midfield Ji So-Yun, and everything changed. They played with a higher formation, now finally on the front foot. That’s where Kerr’s genius comes in, when a world-class ending is needed, and perhaps no one knows more than she does about what’s to come. When her left shoe hits the volley into the net, momentum returns. Scores are now equal.
Kerr ran up to Hayes with a beaming smile, describing the match as their “destiny”. As with her volley, she knew exactly what was coming.
“That shows confidence,” says Hayes. “I always say [to Kerr] Come to Chelsea and you’ll win trophies here… We’re both perfect fit for Chelsea. “
Arsenal broke the deadlock at West Ham, helping them return to the top of the table, but somehow, it looks like Chelsea will win. And just a few more minutes: Ji proved her quality once again, sliding forward Pernille Harder down the left flank to let the Germany international pass the ball inside to Reiten, who hit the home side’s net. Then came another shining moment for Kerr: she witnessed a header from the air 25 yards before knocking and heading over the keeper. Mary Earps.
A 4-2 win for Chelsea means Arsenal’s 2-0 win over West Ham doesn’t change the standings. That meant Hayes’ side continued their reign, winning their third consecutive WSL championship and fourth in the past five years.
Victory will be cherished, although much work remains to be done at Chelsea. They have seven players out of contract this summer, with new owners pending – led by Todd Boehly, owner of the LA Dodgers – tasked with maintaining the dynasty Hayes has built up the side. west London. They also have the women’s FA Cup final next Sunday (9:20 a.m. ET, live stream on ESPN+) to prepare for where they will face Man City and hopefully bring home more silverware for an increasingly packed trophy cabinet.
However, that is all for another day. Hayes’ side will rest easy on Sunday, knowing they have stood the test of time, proving once again that they are still at the top of the table.
“I just knew we were going to win,” Kerr said in a post-match press conference. “When we go like that, not many teams can stay with us.”
