Chelsea beat Man City to WSL title to give Emma Hayes fairytale ending

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd doubled Chelsea’s lead against Man Utd (Photo: Getty)

Chelsea have pipped Manchester City to the Women’s Super League title in Emma Hayes’ final game in charge of the Blues.

Both sides went into the final day of the season level on points, with Chelsea only just ahead on goal difference: +47 to +45.

As such both teams needed to not just win, but win big, with the Blues facing the trickier test at Manchester United, while the Citizens travelled to Aston Villa.

And it was Chelsea who got off to a dream start with Mayra Ramirez giving them the lead at Old Trafford after just two minutes.

And Hayes really was putting the champagne on ice after Johanna Rytting Kaneryd doubled their advantage on the eighth minute, calmly slotting past England No.1 Mary Earps.

City needed to get off the mark and quick, and Mary Fowler duly obliged to put her side ahead after 21 minutes, but at this stage they still needed to find the back of the net four more times, with Chelsea holding a clear advantage on goals scored.

But before the first-halves were even over, their task went from improbable to impossible with substitute Sjoeke Nusken and Ramirez scoring within a three minute spell just before the break to give Chelsea a 4-0 lead.

Mary Fowler scored the opener for Man City against Aston Villa (Photo: Getty)

The Blues could have just relaxed in the second-half but decided to send departing manager Hayes out in a blaze of glory, with Melanie Leupolz adding a fifth almost immediately after the restart.

It mattered little at this point, but City’s pride was still on the line when Rachel Daly fired in an equaliser for Villa but Lauren Hemp got them back in front in the final stages to avert a completely disastrous afternoon.

But the day belonged to Chelsea and Hayes who announced her departure from the club she has managed for 12 years last November, with the 47-year-old set to take charge of the USA.

Emma Hayes leaves Chelsea on a high with a seventh WSL title (Photo: Getty)

Fittingly, Chelsea’s final goal of their 6-0 rout came courtesy of Lioness hero Fran Kirby who is also leaving West London in the summer.

‘It was pretty special. But when half the country writes you off and we know that we’ve got the monster mentality, we’ve done it season after season,’ Chelsea captain Millie Bright told Sky Sports.

‘We’ve always believed in ourselves and we were given a second chance, they don’t come often, but we have to take it.

‘We took it against Bristol City, we took it against Tottenham and we’ve come here and put on a five-star performance to make sure we take this title.

‘It’s extra special to be able to give it Emma and those other players that are leaving us.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Chelsea news, exclusives and analysis

Sign upPrivacy PolicyThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Never miss a beat throughout the season or transfer window with weekly Chelsea news updates, exclusives and analysis. Sign up to Metro.co.uk’s Club Metro newsletter