Gilly Flaherty’s second-half header was not enough for Chelsea as ten-man Manchester City held on to win and deny the visitors the FA Women’s Super League 1 title.
Goals from England internationals Jill Scott and Toni Duggan, coupled with Liverpool’s win against Bristol Academy, ensured that Chelsea missed out on goal difference despite Abbie McManus’ red card for the hosts.
Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea
FA WSL 1
Sunday 12 October, 2014
Manchester Sportcity
The visitors suffered an early blow when goalkeeper Marie Hourihan was forced off after 11 minutes following a heavy aerial collision with Georgia Brougham.
And substitute keeper Clare Farrow failed to deal with Scott’s low, skidding drive on 24 minutes which gave City the lead.
Chelsea pressed for an equaliser but Duggan doubled the lead on 34 minutes, chesting down Scott’s cross and unleashing a stunning volley into the top corner.
Natasha Flint missed a great chance to make it three on 51 minutes, heading wide, unmarked, from six yards.
But Flaherty gave Chelsea hope on 71 minutes, rising highest to nod in Danielle Buet’s corner.
Chelsea’s cause was further boosted on 76 minutes, when McManus was sent off for an alleged elbow off the ball.
Jackie Groenen and Hannah Blundell both fired half-chances over in the last five minutes, but City held on to break Chelsea hearts.
Manchester City (4-3-3): Brooks; Harding, Lipman, McManus, Brougham (Young 90); Scott, Johnston, Walsh; Flint (Nightingale 78), Christiansen, Duggan.
Subs not used: Young, Nightingale, Hassett, Kete.
Bookings: Harding 40, Flint 48
Red cards: McManus 76
Chelsea (4-3-3): Hourihan (Farrow 11); Borges (Buet 58), Bassett, Flaherty, Blundell; Ji, Champman, Spence (Groenen 36); Ogimi, Aluko, Williams.
Subs not used: Wilhelmsson, Rafferty, Coombs, Meiwald.
Bookings: none
Red cards: none
Attendance: 1,292
Referee: A.Tankard
