EMMA HAYES asked her players if “they like winning” after Chelsea secured back to back Women’s Super League titles.
Hayes’s side headed into today’s concluding round of fixtures two points clear of second-placed Manchester City and with a goal difference superior by three.
And they made no mistake in getting the win they needed as Melanie Leupolz, Fran Kirby’s double, Sam Kerr and Erin Cuthbert ensured the trophy remained with the Blues.
Chelsea were named 2019-20 champions on a points-per-game basis. When the season was halted by the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, they were a point behind leaders City with a game in hand.
#FAWSL: Chelsea Women retain title, Robins relegated
#FAWSL: Chelsea Women retain title, Robins relegated Chelsea s Fran Kirby celebrates scoring the second goal with Sam Kerr. (Photo: John Walton via Imag0)
Chelsea defeated Reading to retain the Barclays FA Women’s Super League title, while Bristol City were relegated following a loss at Brighton.
Final day results:
Chelsea 5-0 Reading
Chelsea champions again
Chelsea ran out 5-0 winners over Reading to make it back-to-back WSL titles.
The hosts could not have asked for a better start, as Melanie Leupolz scored with a first-time strike via a Jess Carter corner kick, just over a minute into the match.
It was the quadruple-chasing Blues’ second piece of silverware this season. By Press Association Sunday 9 May 2021, 5:02 PM May 9th 2021, 5:02 PM 3,653 Views 2 Comments
Chelsea players celebrate with the FA Women s Super League trophy.
Image: PA
Image: PA
CHELSEA RETAINED THE Women’s Super League title with an emphatic 5-0 win over Reading.
Emma Hayes’ side headed into Sunday’s concluding round of fixtures two points clear of second-placed Manchester City and with a goal difference superior by three.
And they made no mistake in getting the win they needed as Melanie Leupolz, Fran Kirby’s double, Sam Kerr and Erin Cuthbert ensured the trophy remained with the Blues.
What made it even more special is that this was the most difficult WSL title to win yet. Hayes described it as no doubt my favourite after the game, explaining: Teams have invested, some heavily. It s not like the competition was, Oh Chelsea have spent all the money and the rest haven t . No. It doesn t work like that. I think there were four teams, to be fair, that could have been in with a shout at the title at one point or another. This is the hardest one. The fact that it s gone to the last day demonstrates that.
Manchester City did their best this year - signing World Cup and Champions League winners - but ultimately fell short on the final day. Arsenal and Manchester United dropped off some weeks ago. In the end, Chelsea prevailed, and have now won the WSL a record four times.
WATCH: Melanie Leupolz opens the scoring for Chelsea against Reading
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That was quick! In the second minute after kickoff in the final WSL match of the season for Chelsea Women, Jess Carter takes a corner straight to Melanie Leupolz’s feet in Readings’s penalty box at Kingsmeadow. The midfielder only had to take a good shot with her first touch at goal to convert her chance, and open the scoring for the Blues today.
01:08 - In a match in which Chelsea know victory guarantees them the @BarclaysFAWSL title, Melanie Leupolz has netted the fastest league goal of the season by any player, doing so after just one minute and eight seconds. Settled. pic.twitter.com/V36u3MpF3o OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 9, 2021