In Emma Hayes’s remaining season at Chelsea, the Women’s Super League might be taking place to the wire once more. Though for the broader observers, they may have Manchester City to thank for that after Gareth Taylor’s aspect defeated the four-time reigning champions at Kingsmeadow to blow the title race vast open. Chelsea might have gone six factors clear with victory however the hosts had been flat and surprisingly subdued. City rose to the event and deservedly joined Chelsea on the high of the desk, degree on factors with eight video games to go.
Khadija Shaw’s 14th aim of the WSL season within the 14th minute was sufficient to settle this top-of-the-table conflict as City survived late stress within the 9 minutes of stoppage time to see out their lead. The trademark response that has change into accustomed from Hayes’s “mentality monsters” was denied by the sensible City goalkeeper Khiara Keating, who made a key double save on the demise to cease Jelena Cankovic’s volley and Sjoeke Nusken’s follow-up. Chelsea ought to have been awarded a penalty late within the first half when Mayra Ramirez was introduced down by a sliding Alex Greenwood within the field, however, on the entire, the 19-year-old Keating would have anticipated a far busier conclusion to her evening.
There could be no late equaliser or somebody rising to the event to provide a big-game second within the absence of Sam Kerr, although Hayes will rue that Cankovic probability. It has been that resilience on which Chelsea have gained 4 titles in a row underneath Hayes, but when there was a chance now with the Australian out for the season, City grabbed it with each palms. This felt like a major second for Taylor’s aspect, a way of a workforce coming of age as they defeated Chelsea at this stage of the season and because the type workforce within the WSL.
If Chelsea had been overrun by Arsenal of their 4-1 defeat on the Emirates in December, Hayes’s aspect had been this time outplayed by a composed and calculated visiting workforce, who executed their recreation plan properly by taking part in on the entrance foot and urgent Chelsea excessive. Taylor’s aspect maybe lacked an id final yr after a lot of high-profile departures, however they’ve now constructed a powerful workforce. Yui Hasegawa’s positional sense on the base of midfield, the composure of Alex Greenwood and Laia Aleixandri, the bravery and quietness of Keating, who was so spectacular once more and absolutely now might be set to make her England debut later this month.
Keating gained City the sport on the finish however Shaw put them on their approach in the beginning. Set up by the superb Jess Park, who robbed Erin Cuthbert of possession, Shaw produced an excellent end with the surface of her proper boot to beat Hannah Hampton. And if every little thing about City and their play feels directed in direction of Shaw, with Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly relentless once more on the wings, the entire workforce’s press main in direction of its focus, it’s Shaw’s targets who might take City to the title over the run-in. Goal distinction, in spite of everything, might determine the race.
Shaw’s aim was one of many few moments of high quality in a conflict that Chelsea by no means fairly turned up for. With Chelsea surprised, City ought to have doubled their lead: Shaw dragged vast on her left foot when area opened up in entrance of her, earlier than Park lower inside well and reversed one other incisive move via to Shaw – this time the Jamaica worldwide’s end lacked the medical edge proven in dispatching the earlier probability and Hampton saved at her close to publish.
Apart from Lauren James, who drifted dangerously at each alternative, Chelsea lacked risk; although they need to have been awarded a penalty when Ramirez burst previous Greenwood however was lower down by the City captain as she formed to shoot. Ramirez had misplaced management barely however Greenwood received not one of the ball and for City it was a lucky escape. Chelsea improved and Keating was pressured into a very good save to disclaim Fran Kirby following a well-worked transfer instigated by James gliding off the wing.
The second half drifted from Chelsea and their eventual rally got here far too late, deep into the 9 minutes of added time. Hayes made adjustments and altered her workforce’s form however within the absence of Kerr, the champions wanted somebody to step up and ship a giant second: Cuthbert flashed a curling shot vast of the far publish however Chelsea didn’t threaten once more till the ultimate seconds. When it broke to Cankovic within the City field, it appeared as if Hayes’s aspect would discover their late second, just for Keating to spring to her proper after which launch herself in smothering Nusken. Chelsea didn’t discover their ordinary equaliser and maybe the title race is heading in a special course this season, too.
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk