The Scoring head of Bronze: Chelsea beat Man United to become Women’s Super League Champions

Lucy Bronze heads for goal. Photo Natasha Catchpole for Constancy Sport

A hard-fought match at Leigh Sports Village lead seven-time Women’s Super League winners Chelsea to secure their eighth victory with a 1-0 win.

Context:

With Aston Villa beating Arsenal in a 5-2 defeat just half an hour before kick-off, a small chance for Chelsea quickly became a huge opportunity to win the league in this game. As only one point was needed, the Blues had to secure a draw or a win to lift the Women's Super League trophy.

First Half:

Unlike Manchester United, who seemed to be holding key players Toone and Mannion on the bench in preparation for the Manchester derby this Sunday, Chelsea played their strongest squad from the off.

Despite still missing Sam Kerr to ACL injury recovery, Lionesses Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh were all on the pitch.

From kick-off there was evident intensity from both teams. Manchester United played their consistent tactic of a high press from attacker Melvine Malard, which gained some attempts for the Reds, though was unable to break Chelsea’s strong defence in this half.

To counter this Chelsea used the wings to their advantage, which gained them on-target crosses but no successful conversions.

Chelsea and Man United are notorious in this league for their skilful defensive play, and both teams demonstrated these tactics with many strong tackles, short passes and transfers.

Notable play included some shots by Chelsea’s Mayra Ramírez, a passionate run on goal and close rebound from Melvine Malard, the cohesive glory of Bright and Bronze’s defence and some impressive throw-ins from Man United’s Riviere.

Score at end of first half: 0-0

Second Half:

With the home crowd roaring, Manchester United flew into the second half with a newfound vigour.

They pushed the play towards Chelsea’s goal and pressed to keep it there, for the first time looking as if they might break the Blue’s seemingly invincible defence.

However, with the passing structures of Chelsea’s detailed coaching the blues broke through Man U’s press, bringing the ball back towards their attack.

A 54th minute scramble for goal with a shot by Aggie Beever-Jones showed hope of breaking the unscoring match, but was slide tackled out before reaching the goal.

In response to this, Manchester United substituted to bring on Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland and, slightly later, Anna Sandberg. A flying shot to the middle of the goal by Terland seemed to be changing the Red’s luck, but with Hannah Hampton’s keeping, Chelsea wasn’t letting anything through.

In the 74th minute the game was set to change, with Chelsea’s Sandy Baltimore stepping up to take a corner. The ball sailed into the air and was almost saved by the hands of Tullis-Joyce but was headed in by Lucy Bronze before she had the chance.

Chelsea was now leading 1-0.

In an attempt to save the match Manchester United brought on Aoife Mannion and Lisa Naalsund in the 83rd minute. The Reds now had their team favourites on the pitch, and the home support grew louder.

With evident tension from both sides, the stadium was electric as it came up to the final minutes of the match.

At 1-0 the game was still open, and Man United weren’t giving up. Seven minutes of stoppage time brought with them a free kick from Ella Toone, and a corner from Anna Sandberg, but neither were able to score.

The match ended with a score of 1-0 to Chelsea, the champions of the Women’s Super League.

Final Score: Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United

Post-Match Comments:

Marc Skinner (Manchester United):

In the post-match press conference Marc Skinner congratulates Chelsea on their win but focuses on his team learning from the experience of this game.

‘If you look at the difference in budgets,’ Skinner explains, ‘I think we’ve done really well’.

He talks of how Manchester United focus on supporting the young players who come up through the club, taking that young talent and accelerating them towards success.

‘There’s always a chance to find them,’ the manager says, ‘you’ve got to try and topple that dynasty.’

Sonia Bompastor (Chelsea):

Head coach for Chelsea, Sonia Bompastor, says that the win feels a little bit unreal, but chooses not to dwell on the win and risk her team becoming too comfortable. She puts the team’s victory down to the ‘details’.

Bompastor talked of her push for the players to focus on keeping a clean sheet, fighting for each other and being compact as a team.

’The team is more important than individuals’, she comments. It is this teamwork that combines to form the ‘ideal and perfect’ Chelsea that she aspires to.

After their defeat to Barcelona, Bompastor talked of how the team needed to be ‘mentally strong’ to face this match, and that she is proud of her team for bouncing back after the match on Sunday.

However, she still strives for perfection in the lasting games for the Blues. ‘I always want more from them’, Bompastorsaid, ‘I don’t want to drop any points.’

Attendance:

4029

Manchester United:

Team:

Phallon Tullis-Joyce (GK), Gabby George, Maya Le Tissier ©, Grace Clinton, Melvine Malard, Leah Galton, Jayde Riviere, Celin Bizet, Dominique Janssen, Hinata Miyazawa, Millie Turner

Substitutes:

Used: Aoife Mannion, Ella Toone, Anna Sandberg, Lisa Naalsund, Elisabeth Terland.

Unused: Kayla Rendell (GK), Safia Middleton-Patel (GK), Anna Sandberg, Simi Awujo, Mared Griffiths

Head Coach:

Marc Skinner

Chelsea:

Team:

Hannah Hampton (GK), Millie Bright ©, Mayra Ramírez, Erin Cuthbert, Naomi Girma, Sandy Baltimore, Weike Kaptein, Niamh Charles, Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh, Aggie Beever-Jones

Substitutes:

Used: Sjoeke Nüsken, Johanna Rytting-Kaneryd

Unused: Rebecca Spencer (GK), Catarina Macario, Guro Reiten, Ashley Lawrence,  Maika Hamano, Maelys Mpome, Oriane Jean-François

Head Coach:

Sonia Bompastor