- Maika Hamano’s goal vs Tottenham saw Chelsea return to the top of the WSL
- The Blues will go level on points with Man City, but are ahead on goal difference
- CHRIS SUTTON: Arsenal players will feel SICK if they don’t win the title… I wonder if they can go again next year – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast
The fairytale ending for Emma Hayes is on.
Chelsea will go into the final day of the Women’s Super League season top of the table, level on points with Manchester City but with a marginally superior goal difference.
At times, it felt as though Chelsea were determined to make this game against Tottenham more difficult than it needed to be. The Blues could have been out of sight before half-time had they been more clinical in front of goal.
It perhaps told the story of their season. They needed grit and determination to get over the line after Maika Hamano had put them ahead in the 37th minute, but they managed it – like champions so often do.
Just two weeks ago, Hayes had conceded the title to City after her team had suffered a 4-3 defeat at Liverpool. But Arsenal’s victory over Gareth Taylor’s side in the following fixture, and Chelsea’s subsequent 8-0 win against Bristol City, put them back in the driving seat and now their fate is very much in their own hands.
Emma Hayes has a chance to win the Women’s Super League in her final season at Chelsea
The Blues sealed a 1-0 victory vs Tottenham, sending them back to the top of the league table
Maika Hamano’s (centre) goal saw Chlesea set up a final day showdown against Man City
The Blues’ have a goal difference of +47, two better than City’s. Should the two teams finish level on points and goal difference, it will come down to goals scored – with Chelsea currently six ahead of their rivals.
Hayes’ side face Manchester United at Old Trafford on the final day while City travel to Aston Villa.
Both fixtures are tricky and there may yet be more twists and turns to come in what has been a fascinating and thrilling title race.
Chelsea started strong against a Spurs team who had suffered a bruising defeat by Manchester United in Sunday’s FA Cup final. The Blues had two big penalty appeals early in the first half the first saw Luana Buhler block Hamano’s close-range shot with her arm, before Grace Clinton pulled back Melanie Leupolz in the box – but both appeals were waved away by referee Emily Heaslip.
Chelsea had multiple chances to open the scoring but were wasteful in front of goal, until Hamano finally broke the deadlock in the 37th minute.
Catarina Macario drove forward in the middle before spraying a pass out to Guro Reiten on the left. The forward took a couple of touches before crossing to the back-post, where Hamano was waiting to place the ball past Barbora Votikova.
Chelsea had several chances to break the deadlock but were wasteful in front of goal
Luana Buhler (right) came close to getting a goal back for Spurs, but her side just couldn’t find the back of the net
Tottenham were wasteful with their chances with Chelsea hanging on to seal a nervy victory
Robert Vilahamn’s Spurs side have now failed to win in their last four league matches
Chelsea will now go into a final day showdown against Manchester City for the league title
Spurs had failed to create any significant chances in the first half but they started the second strongly, with Aggie Beever-Jones having to make a vital block to keep out Buhler’s shot from a corner before Ashleigh Neville fired over the bar.
Clinton then went close with a long-range effort but Zecira Musovic in the Chelsea goal had it covered. Spurs’ earlier momentum fizzled out as Chelsea managed the game well, while continuing to waste chances of their own at the other end.
