The ultimate Girls’s Tremendous League (WSL) matchday of 2024 happened over the weekend and it didn’t disappoint.
It produced some shock outcomes because the champions dropped factors for the primary time this season, whereas Everton and Aston Villa each acquired again to successful methods. It’s lined up an especially thrilling second half of the marketing campaign as golf equipment battle it out for the title, European locations and security from relegation.
The WSL will now take an prolonged break with video games set to renew from January 17, beginning with Brighton’s journey to face Liverpool. The Christmas interval will even present some much-needed respite for golf equipment struggling with a big variety of accidents.
With that being stated, for the ultimate time this 12 months, 90min have appeared on the six large takeaways from gameweek 10…
Chelsea dropping factors in opposition to Leicester Metropolis wouldn’t have been on most individuals’s 2024 bingo playing cards. Chelsea dropping factors in opposition to anybody, after the begin to the season they’ve had, appeared unimaginable.
Seems, Sonia Bompastor’s facet are human in any case. Their 100% report got here to an finish on Saturday because the hosts opened the scoring within the first half by means of Missy Goodwin, however Wieke Kaptein was capable of hold the unbeaten streak alive, on the very least, with a later equaliser on the King Energy.
Luckily for Chelsea, their nearest rival Manchester Metropolis weren’t capable of capitalise on the dropped factors as they suffered a shock defeat themselves. Arsenal and Manchester United are additionally beginning to shut the hole, however Chelsea nonetheless sit comfortably six factors clear – for now.
Talking of Metropolis dropping factors, they suffered a shock defeat away at Everton on Sunday afternoon. They discovered themselves two targets down earlier than half time with two in fast succession from Lucy Hope and Honoka Hayashi, and Mary Fowler’s late penalty for the guests wasn’t sufficient to tug the end result again.
It was a monumental win for Brian Sorensen’s facet, who’ve endured a horrific begin to the season when it comes to accidents. A matter of weeks in the past, the Toffees have been staring down the barrel of a possible relegation combat, however now they’ve labored themselves into a robust place to kick on within the second half of the season.
It’s nonetheless extraordinarily tight on the backside of the desk with simply 4 factors separating twelfth and seventh, however Everton supporters can relaxation straightforward this Christmas with a renewed sense of perception they will keep away from any additional hazard.
The second managerial casualty of the 2024/25 season occurred final week as Aston Villa boss Robert de Pauw was relieved of his duties at Villa Park. He was solely appointed by the Midlands membership in June because the alternative for Carla Ward, however issues weren’t working for the Dutchman and Villa took swift motion.
Shaun Goater took cost of their remaining WSL recreation of the 12 months in opposition to West Ham because the seek for a brand new head coach will get underway. Villa bounced again from final week’s loss in opposition to Arsenal in emphatic style with a 3-1 triumph at dwelling to the Hammers.
Adriana Leon opened the scoring inside 5 minutes, however the guests drew stage with a objective from Viviane Asseyi. Leon put Villa again in entrance getting ready to half time and Kenza Dali then put the end result past doubt with slightly below 10 minutes left to play.
Metropolis’s defeat to Everton was an enormous blow when it comes to their title hopes, however supervisor Gareth Taylor has been left sweating over the health of a variety of his key gamers. He might be with out the likes of Lauren Hemp and Vivianne Miedema till the brand new 12 months, and defender Alex Greenwood suffered a severe damage final week within the Champions League.
The 31-year-old instantly signalled to the bench after coming off worse in a problem in opposition to St. Polten ahead Melanie Brunnthaler. She was stretchered off in consequence, with the plain concern of a possible ACL understandably on the entrance of everybody’s minds.
Taylor confirmed after Sunday’s defeat that they’re nonetheless awaiting the outcomes of Greenwood’s scan, and fortunately it doesn’t seem as severe as first feared. That being stated, any size of time with out their captain could be a severe blow for Metropolis.
Khadija Shaw, who’s main the way in which within the golden boot chase, can be managing an damage as she missed each of their video games final week. Taylor confirmed they’re ready for extra info on the extent of the decrease leg subject earlier than placing a date on a possible return.
As talked about, each Arsenal and Manchester United rounded off the 12 months with a win. They secured slender 1-0 victories over Liverpool and Crystal Palace respectively, however three factors is all that issues at this stage.
They’ve now lowered the hole to Metropolis to only one level and are seven behind leaders Chelsea. With a bit over half the season left to play, they gained’t be counting themselves out of the title race simply but.
The Gunners have one Champions League group recreation left to contend midweek, however in any other case, focus now shifts to relaxation and restoration over Christmas forward of an important second half of the marketing campaign.
Brighton have been held to a 1-1 draw in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday as they fell additional under their high 4 rivals. It’s been a promising few months for the Seagulls below new supervisor Dario Vidosic, however the tempo wanted to maintain up with the highest 4 is proving to be a bit an excessive amount of.
Bethany England put Spurs forward late on at Broadfield Stadium, however the hosts responded brilliantly to clinch some extent, courtesy of a objective from Marisa Olislagers. They’re now 4 factors behind Arsenal and United in third and fourth, which means European qualification isn’t fully out of the query at this stage, however it’s going to take a good larger effort within the remaining 12 video games to realize it.
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