Chelsea clinch third successive WSL title after roller-coaster victory over Man Utd
- Planet Sport writer
- 8 May 2022
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes admitted she felt 'mentally drained' after her 'amazing' team battled back to clinch a third consecutive Women’s Super League title.
Chelsea came from behind twice to beat Manchester United 4-2 to hold off second-placed Arsenal.
Goals from Erin Cuthbert and Guro Reiten, either side of a pair of stunning volleys from Sam Kerr, did the damage at a sold-out Kingsmeadow.
"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," Hayes told her club's website
"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."
Chelsea will aim to complete the double in next Sunday's FA Cup final against Manchester City.
"I'm absolutely mentally drained right now," added Hayes. "I will just go home, have a cup of tea as usual and get ready for tomorrow."
Arsenal knew they could snatch the title on the final day, if they bettered Chelsea's result.
It looked as if it was within their reach when Chelsea were behind on two occasions - first following Martha Thomas' header and again when Ella Toone volleyed home after Cuthbert briefly levelled.
But Chelsea displayed a champion's mentality, responding in the second half as Kerr equalised before giving her side breathing space with a fine strike after Reiten's close-range finish.
Scoring hero Cuthbert said: "I feel like it's the best one (title success) yet. The league's getting tighter, more competitive, we've won it on the last day.
"Probably everyone was watching thinking we were down and out but never write off this team.
To our fans, you matter. To our club, we are proud to represent you. To the staff, I am proud to work with you. To the players, I am proud to have the privilege to coach you. I love you Chelsea 💙 We know who we are. pic.twitter.com/okIClGqlQZ
— Emma Hayes OBE (@emmahayes1) May 8, 2022
"We've got a top mentality, a top manager - what a day for the football club."
Jonas Eidevall's Gunners did everything they could, securing a 2-0 win away to West Ham thanks to second-half goals from Stina Blackstenius and Vivianne Miedema, but it proved to be in vain.
Miedema's future with the Gunners is uncertain, with the Dutch star out of contract this summer.
Man City clinched the third Champions League berth with a 4-0 victory over Reading.
At kick-off they knew that if they lost and local rivals Manchester United won they would be pipped for third place, but City were comfortable by half-time after goals from Lauren Hemp and Khadija Shaw.
An 85th-minute goal from Ellen White and an added-time penalty from Alex Greenwood made the result safe, and means City head into the cup final in fine form.
Tottenham consolidated fifth place with a 1-0 win over Leicester thanks to Ashleigh Neville's goal early in the second half, while Brighton and Everton drew 1-1.
Nathalie Bjorn's penalty in stoppage time gave the Toffees a half-time lead but it lasted just seven minutes after the restart when Aileen Whelan pulled Albion level.
Relegated Birmingham ended the season on a high with a 1-0 win over rivals Aston Villa.
Greek forward Veatriki Sarri netted the only goal in the 10th minute.
