18 min: Chelsea 0-0 Manchester United That goal has woken Chelsea up, and Cuthbert breaks down the right to win their first corner (I think). Reiten’s deep corner is headed away powerfully by Russo.
16 min Just the facts, Jack.
Goal. United take the lead through Thomas.
🔵 0-1 🔴 [13’] #CFCW
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 8, 2022
15 min It’s the updated as-it-stands table!
As things stand, Arsenal are top of the league! It was such a simple goal from United: Katie Zelem’s excellent inswinging free-kick was met by the stretching Martha Thomas, who steered a looping header past Berger.
GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Manchester United (Thomas 13)
It’s been coming!
11 min: Chelsea 0-0 Manchester United Hayley Ladd is booked for bundling over Sam Kerr.
11 min: Chelsea 0-0 Manchester United It’s still all United. I’m loath to say at this stage that Chelsea look nervous. I just think the quality and speed of United’s start has taken them slightly by surprise.
9 min: Chelsea 0-0 Manchester United We’ve just seen a replay of that goalmouth scramble, during which Russo’s header hit the slightly outstretched arm of Eriksson. She was unsighted, but I’m not sure her arm was in a natural position. With VAR (ugh), that might have been a penalty to United.
7 min The final day of any season would not be complete without an early and essentially pointless look at the as-it-stands table.
6 min: Chelsea 0-0 Manchester United The corner is headed into the six-yard box by Russo, prompting a desperate scramble before Chelsea clear. There’s a clash of heads between Andersson and Eriksson, who are receiving treatment. Eriksson has come off worse.
5 min: Chelsea 0-0 Manchester United Man Utd have made a really good start, Alessia Russo in particular. She beats three players on the right and drives a cross that is hoofed behind for a corner by Millie Bright.
3 min: Chelsea 0-0 Manchester United Russo curves a dangerous pass around the defence towards Galton, who is brilliantly tackled on the edge of the area by Carter. Without that tackle, Galton would have been through on goal.
Peep peep! The final day of the WSL season is under way.
The pre-match thoughts of Emma Hayes
Five minutes to kick off
The Chelsea players emerge to a lovely ovation from the home crowd. Emma Hayes follows, and immediately waves her hands to encourage the supporters to make even more noise.
Chelsea v Manchester United is being televised in the UK, so we’ll concentrate on that game, though we’ll obviously have goal updates from West Ham v Arsenal. May the best team win the title.
It’s a gorgeous day at Kingsmeadow, and I have nothing to add to this admittedly cursory weather bulletin.
The Champions League race Manchester City hold all the aces in this won. They only a draw away to Reading to clinch third place. And even if they lose, Manchester United would have to win at Chelsea to overtake them.
Pre-match reading
I’m going to pop and grab a coffee, so I’ll leave you with Suzanne Wrack and Louise Taylor’s preview of the final day of the season. The piece includes a typically interesting interview with Emma Hayes. I know she irritates some fans of Chelsea’s rivals loves her but, jeez, for the media, and us neutrals, she is a godsend.
Catch up with the Footballer of the Year
“Emma knows exactly what I need to perform” 🌟
Karen Carney caught up with Sam Kerr ahead of the WSL final day 🔵 pic.twitter.com/4LlsaQOZ0l
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) May 8, 2022
Chelsea are aiming for their third consecutive title, and their fifth in seven years. Think they’ve been here before? Yep, they’ve been here before.
West Ham v Arsenal team news
One change for Arsenal from the 3-0 win over Spurs on Wednesday: Katie McCabe replaces Stina Blackstenius.
Chelsea v Manchester United team news
No surprises in the Chelsea side. Beth England is replaced by Erin Cuthbert, who made such a difference from the bench at Birmingham last weekend, and Jonna Andersson replaces Jessie Fleming.
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Preamble
Look, it was always going to be like this. From the first weekend of the WSL season, when Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-2, it felt like they were both going to go the distance. We thought Manchester City might join them, but their false start made it a two-horse race. And what an unyielding race it has been, both a marathon and a spring. Between them Chelsea and Arsenal have dropped only 21 points in 42 games – and seven of those points were in games against one another.
It all comes down to today’s games, and the permutations are so straightforward that even a dunce like me know’s what’s what. If Chelsea win, they’ll be champions. If not, and Arsenal better their result, Arsenal will be champions. To make it even more exciting for the neutral, both teams have awkward games which come with no guarantees. Chelsea are at home to Manchester United, who still have an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League, while Arsenal are away to sixth-placed West Ham. Both teams should win, but should has never been worth much in association football.
By 2pm, either Arsenal or Chelsea will be champions. And by heck they’ll have earned it.
Kick off 12pm.
