Chaos and elation: Chelsea captures third straight FAWSL title

Emma Hayes and the Blues have gone through way too much to fumble to the title on the last day. After the first 45 minutes of play at Kingsmeadow, the Women’s Super League trophy was on its way east to Meadow Park where Arsenal was just waiting for Chelsea to falter. The final day in the WSL was full of everything a fan could have wanted. Simply put, it was a questionable first half for a side that knew it needed to get all three points. The adjustments and the adaptability of Hayes with two key substitutions at the break altered the complexion of the entire match.

Drew Spence got her farewell at Kingsmeadow in the final minutes, and Sam Kerr once again demonstrated why she is one of the most clutch and clinical strikers in the entire world. For the third straight season and the fifth time in the last six years, the Blues are the well-deserved rulers of the WSL. Through trial and tribulations and many memorable moments, it all paid off for the only team in WSL history to win three consecutive titles.

The Chelsea Women captured their third straight FAWSL in dramatic fashion

Following the dramatic win to clinch the title, Hayes spoke on her team’s performance, stating:

"“First half I thought we played with fear; second half we played to win and I have to credit the whole dressing room for switching that mentality because we knew we had something to lose …Once we play like we had something to win, that was the difference … We’re 2-1 down at home, packed house, everyone’s thinking, ‘oh no, you can’t lose the title at home’ and then we go and do that second half, we’re just amazing … I’m absolutely mentally drained right now … I will just go home, have a cup of tea as usual and get ready for tomorrow.”"

Another trophy in the WSL no doubt solidifies the continued domestic dominance by Hayes and the Blues. Right from the kick, Marc Skinner, and his squad were on a mission to play the role that many teams in the league have tried as the season came to a close. Chelsea came out flat and without purpose as Manchester United dominated possession and created many quality chances that caught the Blues by surprise. Martha Thomas’ flying header along with Ella Toone’s deflected shot that found the back of the net caused concern as the whistle signaled for halftime.

Chelsea’s title hopes were in the balance, and all of the work that was put in throughout the season would have been squashed in the final game of the season. Erin Cuthbert’s goal that put the Blues back into the game after Thomas’ goal was about the only positive for the Blues during the first 45 minutes.

The home side came out of the locker room a reinvigorated squad that finally woke up to the fact that the match was a do-or-die situation. Kerr scored two absolute world class goals that almost nobody else in the world could have executed. Kerr’s two goals put her at the top of the WSL at the end of the season in goals at an astounding 20. It is the second consecutive season that Kerr has finished as the top goalscorer in the league, and she was just two goals shy of breaking the single season record of 22 goals that Vivianne Miedema scored in 2017/18.

The crowd at Kingsmeadow was revitalized as the blue flags were flying high once again after a first half that the crowd would rather choose to forget. It may have taken a whole half for this team to wake up and figure out what was at stake, but when it did, the quality just simply took over. Man United was simply overwhelmed.

Kerr turned two chances that looked more like half chances into remarkable goals that will go down in Chelsea lore. The Australian forward resurrected the Blues in the second half as she time and time again demonstrates to the world why she is one of the greatest strikers in the history of the game. This was why Chelsea brought a player like Kerr to Kingsmeadow—for moments like these. Her calmness and creativity are second to none in this league that has tried to catch up to Kerr since her arrival in 2020.

Ji So-yun—in her last game at Kingsmeadow—carved up the Red Devils’ back line with her prolific vision. Guro Reiten and Pernille Harder linked up for the goal that put Chelsea in front in the 51’ and ignited the crowd that was waiting to explode in jubilation. In the last three games to continue their journey toward the title, the Blues had to find all sorts of ways to grind out the result in the end en route to their third consecutive league triumph.

Back in December, it would have seemed insurmountable that Chelsea was going to edge Arsenal in the final match of the season. An elimination from the Champions League that shocked the rest of the competition, and a devastating loss to Reading where the Royals capitalized on the one chance they created, left the women’s footballing world stunned. From a draw against Brighton in January to nearly dropping points against teams’ like Aston Villa, Chelsea’s ruthless attitude always won out in the end though. With Hayes at the helm, and with the talent at her disposal, the title stays in Kingsmeadow once again as they make a statement to the new ownership group.

The status of women’s football at Chelsea right now is in question with a new consortium at the top of the ladder, but what is for sure is this Blues team has the potential to continue to do this for years to come. With an FA Cup final on the horizon, Chelsea has another chance to add more silverware to the trophy case.

Talent, adaptability and relentlessness, that is what the Blues have been all about this season. Even with the departures coming this summer, Chelsea continues to possess the tools to maintain its dominance in England for years to come.