Chelsea and Manchester United are one step closer in the Women's Super League title race following their impressive wins this past weekend.
Manchester United went head-to-head with their bitter rivals, Manchester City, on Sunday, 21 May. The dramatic derby saw Hayley Ladd fire United ahead inside two minutes with a superb strike from 20 yards out. City keeper Ellie Roebuck sent off for a reckless challenge on Nikita Parris just before half-time, giving United a chance to finally beat City - having never beaten them in the league before.
After the hosts failed to clear a corner, Filippa Angeldahl sent it into the back of the net, levelling the score. City looked set to secure another goal but when United's Lucia Garcia scored an injury-time winner, the Red Devils' faint Women's Super League title chances were secured. - the final score was 2-1 to United.
⏱ @LuciaGarcia17's stoppage-time winner in the derby ensured the title race will go down to the final day 👊#MUWomen || #WSL
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) May 23, 2023
Manchester United are now two points behind Chelsea and must beat Liverpool - and hope that a bottom side Reading next Saturday can do them a favour - to win the title.
A 2-0 win against Arsenal also on Sunday saw Chelsea earn their 11th victory out of 11 at home in the WSL this season and bring them one step closer to the title.
Early pressure from Chelsea led to a first-half lead through goals from Guro Reiten and Magdalena Eriksson. A handball by Sophie Ingle gave Arsenal a penalty opportunity but Arsenal skipper Katie McCabe dragged it wide from the spot. More chances came for the Gunners in the second half but did not lead to any goals.
100% home win record in the @BarclaysWSL. 😎
What a season. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jn2m2PUppR— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 21, 2023
Despite the victory for Chelsea, it was also a sad day as it was captain Eriksson's and Pernille Harder's final home game in a Chelsea shirt after they confirmed last week that they will leave at the end of the season.
Chelsea now have the chance to become champions for a fourth successive season.
