Chelsea has retained their Women’s Super League title as Fran Kirby scored two goals in their brutal victory over the Region.
Knowing the success of the last day will make them champions. Melanie Leupolz put the hosts ahead with half the volume in the lower corner after just 68 seconds.
Kirby headed for a moment in the top corner and reconnected with Sam Kerr to give home power after the break.
Kerr won the gold boot ahead of Grace Moloney, passing Kirby’s pass, and Erin Cuthbert won five.
Second-placed Manchester City won West Ham to end two points. Behind the runners-up but needed Chelsea to slip up to secure a place in the top flight.
Fara Williams holds the England record for capturing Reading in her last game. Before retiring as the Royals finish their seventh season.
Emma Hayes’ team has already won the League Cup this season. And winning the fourth WSL title pushes the Blues a step closer to the historic quadruple.
They will face Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League final next Sunday. And will play in the last 16 of the FA Cup against Everton on May 20.
Leupolz’s fine opener, past Royals goalkeeper Moloney, was WSL’s fastest goal of the season even though Chelsea was not their best.
In the first half at Kingsmeadow, Swashbuckling had to persevere until England hit Kirby’s foot after a single Kerr trip.
Williams was denied a farewell goal for her old team by Ann-Katrin Berger.
When Kirby scored her second goal an hour before, Hayes knocked out. Ji So-Yun, Pernille Harder, and Niamh Charles in the European Championship final next weekend in Gothenburg.
Kerr’s goal made her the second woman to score 20 goals in a WSL season.
After Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema in 2018-19. Her replacement for Cuthbert put the icing on a Chelsea cake late.
Kerr-by combo made Chelsea win again.
The partnership between Kirby and Australia striker Kerr has led to them being known as ‘Kerr-by’ by supporters.
And when any of them scored a goal in winning the title, it stopped them.
The two have scored 52 goals between them in all competitions. And have a near-telepathic understanding when the ball is in the final third round.
Furthermore, their movement and passing weight are fully aligned. But the list of Chelsea’s top players this season is long.
German goalkeeper Berger has won a WSL gold glove by 12 clean sheets this season.
By dismissing unfortunate Manchester City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck. Who missed their last league game on Sunday due to an ankle injury.
Having won the WSL last season by points per game after being relegated by the coronavirus. It will feel suitable for Hayes and co to keep their crown on the field.
