Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.16 2020-21

Chelsea will go into the last day of the season with matters in their hands in
the title race after both contenders recorded victories this week.
With Emma Hayes’ side on Champions League duty on Sunday,
Manchester City went top of the table with a 4-0 victory against
Birmingham City. Chloe Kelly scored twice inside the opening quarter of the
game, before Esme Morgan and Sam Mewis crowned the win with further
goals late on. However, the result was marred for City as they lost Kelly during
the second half with a knee ligament injury which will leave the striker out for
several months.
The onus was on Chelsea to win at Tottenham Hotspur to regain the leadership and
they duly did so, with a 2-0 success. The goals of Sam Kerr have become increasingly important to
the Blues as the season has progressed and the Australian striker scored twice, either side of half
time, to complete a perfect week for her side. Victory at home to Reading FC Women on Sunday
would clinch another title for Chelsea, whilst Manchester City will be away to West Ham Utd.
Arsenal have all but secured third place, thanks to a hard earned 2-1 win away to
Everton. Katie McCabe put the Gunners in front midway through the first half, but Megan
Finnigan looked to have earned Everton a share of the spoils when she equalised sixteen minutes
from time. However in injury time, Kim Little scored from the penalty spot to give Arsenal a win
which means that only a virtually impossible swing in goal difference can keep them out of the top
three.
Manchester Utd are the team which are chasing them and they kept those slim hopes
alive by winning 1-0 at Bristol City, who will be hoping for a turn of fortunes themselves on the
final day. An own goal from the unfortunate Yana
Daniels, twelve minutes from time, has left City Aston Villa 0
needing to win their last match to stand any chance West Ham Utd 0
of survival. -
Reading FC Women meanwhile moved Everton 1 (Finnigan 74)
back into the top half as they defeated Brighton & Arsenal 2 (McCabe 22, Little pen 90)
Hove Albion 3-2. Fara Williams, in her final home -
match for the Royals, gave them a first half lead Bristol City 0
from the penalty spot but in a remarkable three Manchester Utd 1 (Daniels og 78)
minute spell before the break, Danielle Carter made -
it two but Lee Geum-Min netted twice for the Reading FC Women 3 (Williams pen 36, Carter 43,
Seagulls to bring them level. Natasha Harding put Harding 55) )
Reading back in front ten minutes after the restart Brighton & Hove Albion 2 (Geum-Min 44,45)
and this time they held on for their fifth win of the -
season. Manchester City 4 (Kelly 10,23, Morgan 85, Mewis 90)
West Ham Utd and Aston Villa fought Birmingham City 0
out a goalless draw which means that the Hammers -
can now breathe easy but Villa effectively need a Tottenham Hotspur 0
point to be sure of staying up. Chelsea 2 (Kerr 41,52)
BARCLAYS FA WSL P W D L F A Pts GD
CHELSEA 21 17 3 1 64 10 54 54
MANCHESTER CITY 21 16 4 1 64 13 52 51 LEADING SCORERS
ARSENAL 21 15 2 4 63 15 47 Sam KERR Chelsea 20
48
22
MANCHESTER UTD 21 14 2 5 42 20 44 Vivianne MIEDEMA Arsenal 18
EVERTON 21 9 5 5 39 28 32 Fran KIRBY Chelsea 13
11
READING FC WOMEN 21 5 9 7 25 36 24 -11lin FOORD Arsenal 10
Cait
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 21 7 3 11 18 40 24 -22 Manchester City 10
Chloe KELLY
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 21 4 5 12 17 41 17 -24 Manchester City 9
Ellen WHITE
WEST HAM UTD 21 3 6 12 21 38 15 -17
BIRMINGHAM CITY 21 3 6 12 15 43 15 -28
ASTON VILLA 21 3 5 13 15 47 14 -32
BRISTOL CITY 21 2 6 13 17 68 12 -51
Issue no. 16 - 6 May 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk