MIRROR
Chelsea are on the verge of a fourth straight WSL title after seeing off Arsenal 2-0 at Kingsmeadow.
The Blues will be mathematically confirmed as champions if Man Utd fail to win this evening’s Manchester derby. Even if United keep the race alive, a win at Reading on the final day next week will seal the league and cup double for a third year on the bounce for Chelsea.
The opener came when one of their players of the season, Guro Reiten, slid home at the back post to beat Manuela Zinsberger after an excellent cross from Eve Perisset. Captain Magda Eriksson then sealed her dream finale from Kingsmeadow by arriving late in the box to put Chelsea two to the good before half-time.
Arsenal were the better side after the break but Katie McCabe crucially missed a penalty as Chelsea held out for a huge win.
Here are the talking points from Kingsmeadow.
Reiten sets Chelsea on course for the title
Emma Hayes’ team started this one like they meant business. With the title in their sights, Chelsea were fast out of the traps and quick to test Zinsberger in the Arsenal goal.
The only needed 22 minutes to make the breakthrough and it came from one of their players of the season. Guro Reiten got her 12th of the season when getting on the end of Perisset’s perfect cross.
It was a goal that summed up her season. Clever movement in the box and an ice cold finish to match. From that point on the Blues weren’t letting the three points out of their sight.
Perfect farewell for Eriksson and Harder
Chelsea confirmed this week that both captain Magda Eriksson and record signing Pernille Harder would be leaving the club this summer. The pair have played their part in the Blues dominance of the women’s game over the past five years, so it was only right they left their home stage with a victory.
And the skipper even managed to sign off with a goal on her Kingsmeadow finale. Reiten chipped in a free-kick five minutes before the break, met by Sam Kerr.
Her header fell into the danger zone where Eriksson rammed the ball home from close range. A deserved sign-off for one of the club’s best ambassadors in recent years.
Berger stays strong when Chelsea need her
Although the hosts created the majority of chances, when goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was called upon, she once again delivered on the big occasion. Only minutes after Chelsea took the lead, the German stopper kept out a curling effort from Frida Maanum that looked destined for the goal.
The ball spun backwards and very nearly dropped in, instead coming back off the woodwork. Berger then did well to hold onto Maanum’s long-range free-kick as Arsenal tried to find a way back.
Every great side needs a great goalkeeper and Berger has more than played her part in a season that now looks set to deliver Chelsea a fourth straight title. When she then made a wonderful full length dive to deny Maanum in the second half, the hosts were about to take a big step in their title pursuit.
