We're heading over the 'pond' now for a look back on the National Women's Soccer League during May. There can't have been too many pundits predicting that Orlando Pride would make the early running - or any kind of running - given their underwhelming track record in recent seasons. But Marc Skinner's squad had a very good month, picking up three wins and and a draw to lead the field...
It took FC Barcelona Femení just 36 minutes to drive a wrecking ball through Chelsea's aspirations to win their first Champions League title at the Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg. The Spaniards were ahead inside the first minute from Melanie Leupolz's unlucky own goal. Alexia Putellas then doubled their advantage from the penalty spot. Aitana Bonmatí's neat finish made it 3-0 on 20 minutes, and winger Lieke Martens teed up Caroline Graham Hansen for Barcelona's fourth with nine minutes still remaining in the first half. It is Barcelona's first UWCL title and they become the first club to have won the Champions League in both the men's and women's competitions...
It was the final day of the WSL campaign and all matches kicked off at the same time. Less than two hours later Chelsea were crowned League Champions for the second successive year, Brighton would achieve their best ever league position at the expense of Bristol City who were relegated. Spurs would win for the first time in eleven matches, while Villa would do something Everton couldn't all season - get a point off a top four side. West Ham didn't manage to get that elusive home win, but against Manchester City was that really much of a surprise? We're doing it slightly differently this week. Here's a minute-by-minute on how week 22 played out in the FA Women's Super League...
They had to be patient, but Chelsea moved another step closer to retaining their Super League title with a 2-0 win over dogged Spurs. Sam Kerr scored either side of half time to seal a workaday victory for Emma Hayes' side, and keep matters in their own hands going into the final weekend of the WSL. Ok, let's tidy up the last match of Week 21...
Manchester City beat Birmingham to go back to the top of the WSL; Arsenal finally secure their Champions League berth with victory over Everton; Bristol City lose to United but aren't yet relegated; Aston Villa and West Ham draw; Reading and Brighton have a ding-dong, mid-table thriller at the Madejski Stadium. Football's social media boycott is over (for now) and we're heading into the last week of the season. It's Week 21 of the FAWSL...
With the fixtures calendar heading towards the end of April, the Women's Super League had just one midweek catch up remaining. Arsenal kept their Champions League aspirations on track with victory over West Ham; while Birmingham and Aston Villa couldn't be separated in the 'Second City derby'...
It was 'draws galore' for teams at the bottom of the WSL this week, which means it's 'as you were' for Bristol City, Aston Villa, Birmingham and West Ham... Meanwhile, Ella Toone was in sparkling form for Manchester United as they walloped Spurs 4-1; and Arsenal beat Brighton at Meadow Park courtesy of a Jordan Nobbs brace to stay ahead of the Red Devils for that final Champions League spot. Give that barbeque a clean people, the sun's finally out: oh, and it's week 20 of the Women's Super League...
Chelsea took another significant step towards securing back-to-back WSL titles with a 2-2 draw at Manchester City on Wednesday night. In a lively end-to-end encounter Sam Kerr opened the scoring with a header in the 25th minute. Chloe Kelly equalised just before the half hour, but the reigning champions were back in front four minutes later when Pernille Harder converted from the penalty spot. City were much the better side after the break and Lauren Hemp got them back on terms with 16 minutes to go. Chelsea keeper Ann-Katrin Berger then made two outstanding stops from Hemp and Georgia Stanway, before Lucy Bronze headed agonisingly wide in the dying seconds...
Aston Villa climbed off the bottom of the Super League Table on goal difference, grinding out a 0-0 draw at West Ham United. Kateřina Svitková went closest for the hosts while, at the other end Villa's Stine Larsen had a header cleared off the goal line by Hawa Cissoko...
England gift-wrapped victory for Canada with sloppy defensive mistakes at either end of this match at the Bet365 Stadium, Stoke. Évelyne Viens picked Demi Stokes’ pocket in the third minute to fire the Canadians in front. Four minutes from full time, substitute Nichelle Prince pounced on a poor first touch from keeper Karen Bardlsey and stabbed the ball home virtually on the goal line...
