Chelsea crowned WSL champions for third successive season

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Chelsea have been crowned WSL champions for a third consecutive season after they came from 2-1 down to beat Manchester United 4-2 on the final day of the campaign.

The Blues finished one point clear of second place Arsenal to become the first team in WSL history to win the title three years on the trot. The Blues can still complete a domestic double before the season is out.

Chelsea survived a scare on the season’s final Sunday as they trailed Manchester United 2-1 at half time following goals from Martha Thomas and Ella Toone either side of an Erin Cuthbert strike.

But the Blues swung things back into their favour inside six second half minutes thanks to a fabulous Sam Kerr volley and a well-taken Guro Reiten goal. Another terrific Kerr strike ensured the Blues of all three points and the league title.

Emma Hayes’ side have overturned a four-point gap between themselves and Arsenal since Christmas to rise to the top of the WSL, with their last gasp winner over Aston Villa in March and 10-player victory at Tottenham in April particularly pivotal moments in the successful defence of their crown.

Arsenal meanwhile will be left cursing their 2-0 loss to Birmingham in January, with the title race still in their hands when they visited the WSL’s then-winless bottom side at the turn of the year.

The triumph marks the fifth time that Chelsea have been crowned WSL champions – sixth if you include the shortened 2017 Spring Series.

The Blues are the most successful English club since the 2011 formation of the WSL. However, Chelsea do trail rivals Arsenal when it comes to overall top flight titles, the Gunners having been crowned champions of England on 15 occasions.

Chelsea could conclude their campaign with a domestic double when they take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Sunday 15 May.

The Huracan Foundations’ ‘Keep girls in school in 2022’ aims to improve opportunities for girls and reduce gender inequalities.

The global pandemic exacerbated gender inequality issues in a number of countries, and that is why in 2022 four new project leads are focused on using football to make a real difference to girls’ lives in remote communities across Uganda and India. To find out more click here.