City Women played the part of spoiler today as they beat title hopefuls Chelsea 2-1
Chelsea may have fallen at the final hurdle but boss Emma Hayes insists she cannot pick faults in her players after a rollercoaster end to the season saw the Blues finish second in FA Women’s Super League 1.
Hayes’ side were leading the division heading into the final weekend, but Manchester City landed a huge blow before half time as Jill Scott struck first before a sensational volley from Toni Duggan.
However, Chelsea battled back through a Gilly Flaherty header – as well as City defender Abbie McManus’ red card – but the equalising and title-winning goal eluded them.
Instead Liverpool retained their FA WSL1 crown on goal difference after a comfortable win over Bristol Academy, yet Hayes says her side are no one-season wonder.
She said: “I’m obviously gutted, but I’m proud of my players, they responded in the second half. We were obviously very nervous in the first and we lost our goalkeeper very early to a broken collarbone and dislocated shoulder and that certainly affected the team.
“But what an effort this season. We’ve got into the Champions League and have a lot to look forward to.
“We’ll go again and we’ll be here again, and that’s the message I’ve put across to the players. The title just wasn’t destined for Chelsea this year.”
“You can’t console the players in these moments. We’ll reflect when we meet next week. I’m proud of them, and what they have done this year. It brings a lot of optimism for what we can do now.”
Blues goalkeeper Marie Hourihan was forced off after just 11 minutes following a heavy aerial collision with Georgia Brougham.
And sub keeper Clare Farrow failed to deal with Scott’s low, skidding drive on 24 minutes which gave City the lead.
Chelsea pressed for an equaliser but Duggan doubled the lead on 34 minutes, chesting down Scott’s cross and unleashing a stunning volley into the top corner.
Natasha Flint missed a great chance to make it three on 51 minutes, heading wide, unmarked, from six yards.
But Flaherty gave Chelsea hope on 71 minutes, rising highest to nod in Danielle Buet’s corner.
McManus was then sent off for a high elbow and though Jackie Groenen and Hannah Blundell both fired half chances over in the last five minutes, City held on to break Chelsea hearts.
City boss Nick Cushing, who will now prepare his side for the WSL Continental Cup final against Arsenal in mid-week, said: ““It was a performance of real tactical discipline, ability on the ball and real endeavour, grit and real effort when Chelsea had the ball. We had everything. We have been inconsistent in the past, but we had it all here.
“I definitely have difficult decisions to make this week ahead of the cup final. It’s a real headache for Thursday.”
Manchester City (4-3-3): Brooks; Harding, Lipman, McManus, Brougham (Young 90); Scott, Johnston, Walsh; Flint (Nightingale 78), Christiansen, Duggan.
Subs not used: Young, Nightingale, Hassett, Kete.
Bookings: Harding 40, Flint 48
Red cards: McManus 76
Chelsea (4-3-3): Hourihan (Farrow 11); Borges (Buet 58), Bassett, Flaherty, Blundell; Ji, Champman, Spence (Groenen 36); Ogimi, Aluko, Williams.
Subs not used: Wilhelmsson, Rafferty, Coombs, Meiwald.
Bookings: none
Red cards: none
Att: 1,292
Ref: A.Tankard
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