Chelsea remain in charge of the title race heading into the final day, after an impressive 4-0 victory at champions Liverpool. A win for the Blues this weekend will mean the trophy will be headed to Staines for the first time, although a draw might be enough after the boost in goal difference.
Emma Hayes fielded an unchanged eleven from the side that started against Notts County in their previous league game. Hedvig Lindahl started in goal, behind Hannah Blundell, Gilly Flaherty, Niamh Fahey and Claire Rafferty, who returned from injury. Drew Spence and Katie Chapman marshalled defensive midfield, and Eni Aluko and Gemma Davison ran the wings, with Fran Kirby in the number 10 role, and Ji So-yun up front.
Neither team dominated the early stages, and despite set pieces for both sides, no real chances were created.
After a while, Chelsea began to get used to the feel of Liverpool’s artificial turf and were playing more of the aggressive attacking style we are used to seeing. Kirby was called offside twice in a matter of moments, and a promising attack came to nothing as Rafferty couldn’t reach the ball before it went out for a goal kick. Aluko had a shot acrobatically saved by Libby Stout, but that was the only clear-cut chance.
The referee was making a few dodgy calls, ignoring a foul on Davison before awarding one on Blundell, when she was bursting down the line and wanted the advantage. Surprisingly, it was Matt Beard, the Liverpool manager, who was out of his technical area shouting at the fourth official.
It wasn’t long before the referee was in the limelight again, as Natasha Dowie elbowed Fahey in the face, resulting in a lot of blood. The ref allowed play to continue for a while until Flaherty made him aware of the situation. The defender went off for treatment, and Dowie faced no punishment.
Despite Millie Bright preparing to come on, Fahey returned (with face bandages and a clean shirt) but, the referee did not allow her to come on for over two minutes despite plenty of opportunities, and in that time, Liverpool hit both the post and the crossbar as the Blues were lacking numbers at the back. Had it not been for a few inches, the ref would have had a lot to answer for.
While it appeared that the game had lost control, Chelsea were able to take the lead and settle things down; Davison appeared to have overhit her cross, but a brilliant touch by Ji brought the ball down, and she was able to fire past Stout from close range.
Liverpool were still looking dangerous despite being behind, and Lindahl had to make a phenomenal save to deny Katie Zelem what would have been a brilliant goal, as she batted the ball away from the top corner.
Besides the Zelem shot, Chelsea were dominating, and Ji missed a chance to put the Blues 2-0 up when she took too long to shoot in the box, and the opportunity was gone.
The Blues weren’t to be denied for long however, as another great piece of link-up play saw Davison set Aluko away down the right, who squared for Kirby to place the ball in the far corner.
Chelsea took the two-goal advantage into the break, after a hectic first half. Liverpool had been dangerous at times, but it was the Blues who had taken their opportunities.
Chelsea started the second half the way they ended the first, with the front four terrorising the Reds’ backline; Aluko fired over, before good interchange in the midfield ended with Spence having a shot saved by Stout.
The third goal was less about the attacking prowess of Chelsea and more about a lapse in concentration from Liverpool, as Reds’ centre back Satara Murray played an errant backpass towards Stout, and Aluko latched onto it to earn a well-deserved goal.
Katie Chapman was replaced by Millie Bright just before the hour mark, presumably to save the captain for the coming weekend, with the result already in the bag.
Liverpool still had life in them but again saw a brilliant opportunity squandered, as Line Smorsgard got on the end of a defence-splitting through ball, but could only fire well over with only Lindahl to beat.
On the 70th minute, Aluko was substituted after going down with what looked like cramp after an impressive shift and was replaced by Ana Borges. Spence was also taken off, and replaced by Laura Coombs.
The Blues continued to push forward and dominate possession, with Bright looking particularly impressive as she linked defence to attack, with the Liverpool midfield stretched as they searched for a consolation.
Chelsea were rewarded for their endeavour at 3-0 up, as a trademark Davison run left defender Martha Harris for dead, and she squared to Ji, who calmly swept the ball home for her second of the game.
The end of the game was delayed after Borges came in late on Stout, who required lengthy treatment. Borges was booked for the foul, which seemed harsh, given that it was certainly not malicious, and her only infringement in the game.
The final whistle was met by subdued celebration by both the players and travelling supporters, who knew that while we are just one win away from the title, there is still work left to be done.
The victory guaranteed Champions League football for the team in 2016/17, a massive achievement for a team only making their debut this season.
XI: Lindahl, Blundell, Flaherty, Fahey, Davison, Aluko (Borges), Ji, Rafferty, Kirby, Chapman (Bright), Spence (Coombs)
POTM: A very, very difficult one as every single player worked immensely hard, but it has to be given to Eni Aluko, who got a goal and an assist, as well as running herself into the ground when the team lost possession.
The final league game is this Sunday (October 4th), back at home at Staines Town FC at 6pm against Sunderland. A win will guarantee the team’s first ever league title, so make sure you do everything you can to get down to the game and cheer the girls over the line.
Chelsea Ladies Fans 