Nikita Parris checks in with England head coach Sarina Wigman. Photo: Getty Images/Charlotte Tattersall
Manchester City' Hopes of a Women's Super League title evaporated as they suffered a shocking 2-1 defeat to Liverpool that could also cost them their place in the Women's Champions League next season.
On a day that Gareth Taylor's team will forget, this unexpected result, combined with leaders Manchester United's usual 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, left Manchester City six points clear of their rivals with just two games to go. with a much lower goal difference [17 goals worse], leaving Gareth Taylor's team almost certain to finish below their neighbors for the first time in the WSL.
Natasha Dowie and Missy Bo Kearns' Close-range finishes, on either side of England winger Lauren Hemp's equalizer, were enough to put seventh-placed Liverpool in contention and they are now mathematically immune from relegation as well, though this has been no doubt for many years. weeks. However, this is still a major achievement for Matt Beard's team, which moved from the women's championship at the end of last season.
But Manchester City is in the lead; His disappointment could hardly be more contrasted with Manchester United's upward momentum as Mark Skinner's side reached their highest point total in their WSL history and went on to claim a league and cup double by surpassing relegation. threatened Tottenham Hotspur during Sunday lunch.
Skinner's side are now almost certain they will qualify for the Women's Champions League next season, in which the club's women's side will play in Europe for the first time. . However, perhaps more importantly, they continue to put pressure on reigning champions Chelsea for the title.
Manchester United are now four points clear of FA Cup final rivals Chelsea in the standings, although Emma Hayes' have two games in hand and climbed ominously to second place on Sunday night thanks to a resounding 7-0 home win over Everton.
Denmark's Pernilla Harder continued her recovery from a massive hamstring injury, coming off the bench and scoring two goals. protocol also for West London Clinical Team.
SUPER SUB! 💥
Immediately after coming off the bench, Harder leads Chelsea 3-0! 🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/e6ZLpz4TRI
– Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) May 7, 2023
Playing a week before their first Wembley final appearance when they play Chelsea in the FA Women's Cup final next Sunday, Manchester United are seven points ahead of third place. -placed Chelsea in the table even though the defending champions have three games in hand, starting with a late match against Everton on Sunday.
Previously at Leigh Sports Village,In front of England head coach Sarina Wigman in the stands, three English scorers scored against Manchester United. Forward Leah Galton opened the scoring with a neat outside kick, and Alessia Russo doubled the lead with a goal volley, both players scoring 10 WSL goals in the campaign.
It was Galton's fifth goal in her last five matches in all competitions, with Russo scoring in her third home game in a row. Before that, both players were finished off with good last blocks, and the hosts are completely on top.
Leah Galton wear Manchester United with stylish trim. Photo: Getty Images/Charlotte Tattersall
Then Nikita Parris seized on Shelina Zadorski's mistake and added a third ball after the break when they could have scored six or seven goals and Skinner said, «We had three different scorers again. It shows that we are the epitome of a team. We work for each other, we play for each other, we protect each other. That's what's special about this team"
However, the Manchester United manager was still not 100 per cent satisfied, adding: «I don't think we were at our best. There are things we can tweak before the final next week. I guess it's like tuning a guitar, right? If you have the wrong chords or notes, you have to keep adjusting until you get the right sound and we're close, we're so close."
Skinner's team's 50 points this season is the highest WSL score the club has ever amassed (with two games remaining in the league), topping the 47 points they amassed under Casey Stoney in the 2020-2021 season . It was a campaign in which they finished fourth, which remains their best finish in the top division, but that will surely change now.
Reacting to the club's record-breaking WSL points, Skinner added: “It means a lot to me. It's a sign of where we're going and what we're trying to do.» Chelsea, who finished second, and Arsenal, who finished fourth, will now play two matches in reserve ahead of Manchester. United's next league game and the penultimate round of WSL matches on Sunday, May 21st looks set to be a pivotal doomsday. in terms of title race and European places.
The battle for the title is currently in the hands of second-placed Chelsea thanks to the games they play against Leicester at home and West Ham United away on 10 and 17 May.
This is true. the day Chelsea take on Arsenal, just hours before Manchester United take on Manchester City, and by the end of those two matches, the fate of the title will be much clearer.
Regarding Tottenham Hotspur, their faulty defense helped the home team a lot, and the north London club was left in danger ahead of relegation to the Championship.
Their best moment in the second half came after a good cut from Bethany England to find Mana Iwabuchi, but shot-stopping Lioness Mary Earps made a strong double save to hit first Iwabuchi and then Rosella Ayane on the rebound. .
However, Tottenham's hopes of survival were bolstered by Reading's heavy 5-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa. Brighton, meanwhile, are almost safe after a priceless 1-0 win over West Ham United to lift Melissa Phillips. combined to ninth place as they continue to improve rapidly since her appointment in April.
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