Manchester City fell short on the final day of the Women’s Super League season, despite narrowly beating Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park.
Gareth Taylor’s side needed a miracle to pip Chelsea to this season’s title and that task was made even greater within minutes of kick-off as Emma Hayes’ side scored early on at Manchester United. With every goal that flew beyond Mary Earps at Old Trafford, the number of goals City needed to score increased.
By half-time, despite leading 1-0 at Villa Park, the visitors needed to score a further six and hope Chelsea didn’t add to their tally after the break. But Hayes’ side did what they do best and it ended 6-0 at Old Trafford, while City conceded and needed a late winner as a mere consolation.
How the game unfolded
It was the hosts who flew out the blocks in the first half as they found themselves in promising positions, but City soon found their feet and started to test Anna Leat in the Villa goal. It took until the 21st minute, but Taylor’s side eventually broke the deadlock.
Mary Fowler was in space in the Villa box and she was able to turn and get a shot away. There were no celebrations from the City forward as she grabbed the ball and rushed straight back to the centre circle, knowing they needed to score more if they were to have any chance of clinching the title.
City could have led by more at half-time, but substitute Laura Blindkilde Brown struck the bar and Jess Park had an effort palmed away by Leat. With every passing minute and every missed chance, it seemed it just wouldn’t be City’s day.
Despite some promising moments early in the second half, matters went from bad to worse for the title chasers. Moments after Steph Houghton took to the pitch for her final-ever appearance, Villa put themselves back on level terms.
Alex Greenwood pushed up the pitch and City were left exposed to a counter-attack. Rachel Daly made the run and she was found by Kenza Dali, the Villa forward then calmly finished beyond Khiara Keating.
City were able to get their noses back in front courtesy of a messy goal from Lauren Hemp, but the title was already gone by then.
GK: Anna Leat – 8/10 – A fantastic save to keep out a strike from Park just before half-time. Made another outrageous save at 1-1 to keep her side level. Then a third, and so on. Fantastic goalkeeping performance, on the whole.
RB: Sarah Mayling – 6/10 – A difficult afternoon up against Hemp. The City…
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