BEVERLY HILLS, May 09, (THEWILL) – Just as their UEFA Women’s Champions League co-finalists, Barcelona Femini, clinched the Primera Iberdrola on Sunday, Chelsea Women have successfully defended their Women’s Super League title. It took two goals from Fran Kirby and one apiece for Melanie Leupolz, Sam Kerr and Erin Cuthbert to trounce Reading 5-nil on the final day of the season for the title.
Chelsea needed three points and that was what their five-star performance brought them for their fourth title in six years. There was no doubt who had the upper hand in the early exchanges. Leupolz had the ball nestling in the net inside the first two minutes with a half-volley to open the floodgates.
Chelsea’s defense went through without breaking a sweat in tune with their overall best defensive record in the campaign. Keeper Ann-Katrin Berger, whose 12th clean sheet of the season secured the Golden Glove award, was again the image of confidence between the sticks.
The familiar combination of Kerr and Kirby linking up created the goal that doubled Chelsea’s lead. They were again in action to take the champions up to 3-0 and there was clearly no way back for Reading at that point. Goals four and five followed in succession as substitute Erin Cuthbert turned home a rebound to complete the rout.
The victory moved Chelsea ahead of title rivals Arsenal Women as the most successful side in the WSL era. It was also a celebratory occasion for Emma Hayes, whose remarkable eight-year spell at the helm of the Blues has yielded 10 pieces of silverware.
Now, the ladies will turn their winning focus to next Sunday, when we have a chance to make it an unprecedented quadruple on what is undoubtedly the biggest day in the club’s history.
Asisat Oshoala’s Barcelona Femini awaits in Gothenburg to challenge Chelsea in the UWCL final next Sunday.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
