Manchester City women are suffering the pain of the last day

Manchester City Women suffered heartbreak on the final day as they lost the WSL title on goal difference to Chelsea. The Blues won 2-1 at Villa Park, but Chelsea’s 6-0 win at Manchester United ensured the WSL title stayed with them for a fifth successive season.

Mary Fowler and Lauren Hemp scored the goals to secure the points, although Rachel Daly equalized in the 68th minute. However, by the time Fowler scored in the 21st minute, Chelsea were already on their way to a 2-0 win at Old Trafford . They doubled this before half-time at Stretford and added two more when United surrendered.

City needed to better Chelsea’s result, needing at least a three-goal turnaround to stand a chance, and they had opportunities to turn the improbable into the possible. However, a combination of the woodwork, which City hit twice, good goalkeeping and poor finishing cost the Blues vital goals that could have made some difference.

And by the time Fowler opened the scoring with a neat turn and volley, Chelsea were already 2-0 up in Manchester. Collecting Hemp’s right-footed cross, the Australia international turned and struck a left-footed volley past the keeper and into the net. The celebrations were a little muted, giving the impression that the girls already knew the score at Old Trafford.

But to their credit, they kept fighting and looked for the goals to close the gap. Laura Blinkilde Brown’s shot hit the bar, the second time the Blues had hit the woodwork after Alanna Kennedy had done the same with an earlier header, and Jess Park saw her vicious shot tipped over the bar.

As the Blues went in at half-time 1-0 up, they would no doubt have been told that Chelsea were 4-0 up and needed to start burying their chances if they were to have any hope of change such a big goal difference.

The message didn’t really get through as the Blues continued to toil, then came the moment that summed up their day. Daly beat the offside trap and raced forward to slot the ball past Golden Glove winner Khiara Keating.

City stepped up and besieged the Villa goal but the title disappeared when Hemp turned in Fowler’s cross to put City back in front. It was a lovely ball into the box that eluded everyone except Hemp who stuck out a leg and deflected the ball into the roof of the net. However, Chelsea were now 5-0 up and Fran Kirby ended his Chelsea career with a sixth.

In the end, City would have needed at least seven more goals to counter Chelsea’s pullback, and with the way the game played out, they probably would have needed another two hours to get them. The Blues now need to regroup, get the squad back to strength and add some new players ready to launch their bid next season.

Final score: Villa Aston Women 1-2 Manchester City Women