Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 thanks to a Lucy Bronze header to secure the Barclays Women’s Super League title at Leigh Sports Village on Wednesday night.
After Arsenal were stunned by defeat at Aston Villa earlier in the evening, Chelsea knew that avoiding defeat at Leigh Sports Village would deliver them the title. Manchester United on the other hand could climb to second in the WSL with victory and all but end Manchester City’s hopes of European football next season. The match also took on added importance as a dress rehearsal for the Adobe Women’s FA Cup final in just over two weeks time.
The big team news in Manchester saw both Ella Toone and Elizebeth Terland dropped to the bench as Melvine Malard and Dominique Janssen came into the line-up with the latter in particular a defensive change. Chelsea also made two changes from the side that lost in the UEFA Women’s Champions League to Barcelona, Weike Kaptein and Aggie Beever-Jones came into the line up after the latter assisted the former to score Chelsea’s goal against Barcelona off the bench on Sunday.
The Line ups:
MUN: Tullis-Joyce, Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, George, Janssen, Miyazawa; Clinton, Bizet, Galton, Malard
CHE: Hampton; Bronze, Bright, Girma, Charles; Walsh, Kaptein, Cuthbert; Baltimore, Beever-Jones, Ramírez
The Action:
The first moment of action came when Mayra Ramírez stormed into the box, her near post effort was exceptionally stopped by Phallon Tullis-Joyce in between the sticks for the home side. Only minutes later Manchester United had a similar opportunity, it fell to Mallard who instead of near post went far, Hampton made a stunning save but could only palm into the path of the onrushing Grace Clinton. You could almost feel the home crowd rising with anticipation of the lead but for a sensational block from Naomi Girma to deny Clinton the opener.
Shortly after title chasing Chelsea were down to ten players after Mayra Ramírez had to be withdrawn in the 26th minute.
As the match approached half time Manchester United should have been ahead substitute Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s absent minded back pass played Melvine Malard through on goal, the French striker tried to round Hampton but the English number one did well to stay on her feet and ensure Malard was unable to, getting a palm to the ball. Malard turned and cut the ball back to Clinton again but Hampton, recovering well pushed her international team mate’s effort over the bar.
Manchester United were finishing the first half the stronger and felt they should have had a penalty on the stroke of half time. Wonderful centre forward play from Malard nodded the ball down to Grace Clinton who reached the ball before Millie Bright in the box. Bright challenging for the ball was late and caught Clinton bringing her down in the box, with the referee inexplicably not pointing to the spot.
After half time United looked to pick up where they had left off in the first half pressing high up the pitch Jayde Riviere picked Sandy Baltimore’s pocket finding Malard, whose shot was well stopped by Hampton. Hampton was forced into action once again after Gabby George played a wonderful ball into the box Celin Bizet stole in behind toe-poking towards goal in the hopes of wrong footing Hampton but Chelsea’s number one reacted quickly to make the save.
Chelsea having ceded the early second half momentum to United came forward 55 minutes in. Beever-Jones let fly from outside the box, while her shot was well saved by Tullis-Joyce the ball cannoned off Rytting Kaneryd and back off the United keepers Cuthbert’s follow up was wonderfully stopped again by United’s American number one.
With just over 30 minutes to play Manchester United played their jokers, with both Terland and Toone introduced off the bench, the Norweigan was on the attack straight away and with Bright stepping off her she blasted the ball over the bar. However it was Chelsea who took the lead, Sandy Baltimore’s whipped cross was flapped at by Tullis-Joyce and nodded in by Lucy Bronze. Chelsea were almost there.
Chelsea almost doubled their lead just minutes later after wonderful interplay between Caterina Macario, Maika Hamano and Weike Kaptein ensured Tullis-Joyce was busy once again. With Macario’s stinging effort diverted away from danger by the goalkeeper glad in bright yellow.
The result means that Chelsea are WSL champions with two matches to spare while Manchester United still face a battle to secure European football next season.
Manchester United Player Ratings
Phallon Tullis-Joyce – 8/10 – Saved wonderfully from Ramírez in the first half at the near post and a wonderful triple save in the second half. Was poor in dealing with the Chelsea winner.
Jayde Riviere – 8/10 – Despite facing the dynamic Baltimore and Charles, Riviere, as she has been for so much of this season was up to the challenge, she made the most interceptions of any player on the pitch. Pressed high up the pitch and won the ball in offensive areas.
Maya Le Tissier – 8/10 – United have struggled defensively when facing Ramírez in the past but Le Tissier played that role admirably for the first 26 minutes before the Colombian was withdrawn.
Millie Turner – 7/10 – The United defensive was compact and ensured they were able to get in front of Chelsea attackers and Turner epitomised that industry and desire to defend.
Gabby George– 8/10 – Calm and cool when defending against the might of Chelsea, made a particularly impressive defensive header in the first half. Played a quite extra-ordinary cross to Bizet in the second half but it was impressively saved by Hampton.
Dominique Janssen – 7/10 – Made an impressive block to deny Nüsken in the second half and overall did well in the centre of midfield
Hinata Miyazawa – 7/10 – Was often cleaning up for Manchester United in the middle of the park.
Grace Clinton – 8/10 –Should have scored the opening goal in the first half when the ball broke kindly to her. Was unlucky not to get a penalty after getting to the ball in the box before Bright on the stroke of half time. Worked extremely hard defensively and won more duels than any other in United red in her time on the pitch.
Celin Bizet – 7/10 – Impressed with her defensive display tracking back often to good effect and was able to threaten at the other end.
Leah Galton – 6/10 – The winger had a limited impact on this one and struggled to get involved.
Melvine Malard – 7/10 – Provided a wonderful outlet up front and justified her manager’s faith in her but perhaps should have scored when facing down Hampton in a one-on-one just before half time.
SUBS:
Elizebeth Terland – (63′ for Melvine Malard)
Ella Toone – (63′ for Grace Clinton)
Anna Sandberg – (70′ for Gabby George)
Aoife Mannion – (56′ for Jayde Riviere)
Lisa Naaslund – (67′ for Celin Bizet)
Chelsea Player Ratings:
Hannah Hampton – 9/10 – Had to keep her side in the match in the first half and did so with a string of magnificent saves, Hampton was Malard’s foil for long periods. The goalkeeper has really come of age this season for Chelsea.
Lucy Bronze – 8/10 – Struggled on the weekend against her former club but demonstrated her elite mentality tonight, Bronze was a leader in the blues ranks. Bronze won double the amount of duels as the next highest player on the pitch. She rose highest to give Chelsea the title.
Millie Bright – 5/10 – Should have been punished with a penalty after a poor challenge on Grace Clinton on the cusp of half time. Stood off Terland in the second half when she should have closed the Norwegian down. It is clear Bright has played more minutes than ideally she would and that has shown on the pitch of late.
Naomi Girma – 8/10 – Looked far more like herself and the player that NWSL regulars will recognise, up for the physical battle with Malard. Girma set the tone for her side defensively no player made more defensive actions in the first half than Girma’s eight including four blocked shots.
Niamh Charles – 7/10 – The Chelsea left back had a rocky start but improved as the match wore on, won more duels than any other on the pitch. Took a boot to the face from Malard but carried on bravely.
Erin Cuthbert – 6/10 – Strong in the challenge as ever but her passing was off at times, a box-to-box performance from the Chelsea midfield lynch pin.
Keira Walsh – 6/10 – It is taking longer than many had expected for Walsh to settle in, and it still may take some time.
Weike Kaptein – 7/10 – Another mature performance from the young midfielder.
Sandy Baltimore – 7/10 – Orchestrated chance after chance for Chelsea, Baltimore is so consistently at the heart of the danger that Chelsea have in attacking areas. Her set piece delivery helped Chelsea to another vital win.
Aggie Beever-Jones – 6/10 – Uncharacteristically quiet for most of the match, provided some kindling in the second half when Chelsea needed it but it was all too brief a spark.
Mayra Ramírez – 6/10 – Looked lively before being forced off due to injury 26 minutes in.
SUBS:
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – (26′ for Mayra Ramírez)
Sjoeke Nüsken – (57′ for Erin Cuthbert)
Maika Hamano – (76′ for Sandy Baltimore)
Caterina Macario – (76′ for Aggie Beever-Jones)
Guro Reiten – (76′ for Johanna Rytting Kaneryd)
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Hannah Hampton
Hampton was exceptional for Chelsea tonight, the English number one made a string of wonderful saves to keep the scores level when United were in the ascendency.
