City earn share of the spoils in WSL title thriller

Chloe Kelly’s close-range finish cancelled out Sam Kerr’s headed opener inside the half hour, but Pernille Harder hauled the league leaders in front once again before the break from the spot.

Gareth Taylor’s side probed for the equaliser, and were rewarded for our efforts when Lauren Hemp pounced on a miscued clearance from Millie Bright with 15 to play.

City laid siege to the Chelsea goal in search of the win, but the stalemate means we remain two points behind Emma Hayes’ side with two matches of the season to play.

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What Happened?

Gareth Taylor stressed the importance of taking each game as it comes, but there was no hiding from the significance of this highly anticipated clash between the WSL’s two runaway leaders.

And both sides demonstrated why they are vying for the title, fearlessly going toe to toe in an enthralling, end to end encounter.

City came into our Academy Stadium showdown knowing three points would see us leapfrog the London side to the summit, and we had our tails up from the get go.

Inside the first minute, Kelly showed a clean pair of heels to skip away from the attentions of Melanie Leupolz before stinging the palms of Ann-Katrin Berger, setting the tone for a first half of intense, end to end football.

But the reigning champions weren’t phased by our bright start, and soon fired a shot across the bows to emphasise why they had gone 37 league games without defeat on their travels prior to today’s encounter.

Ellie Roebuck’s attempted punch through a crowd of bodies eventually fell to Kerr, who’s flicked header had to be cleared off the line by Abby Dahlkemper.

The Chelsea forward continued to be a thorn in City’s side, forcing Alex Greenwood into a perfectly-timed sliding challenge as she raced in on to Bright’s looping ball soon after.

Not to be denied a third time, the Australian lit the blue touch paper in the 25th minute when she rose highest to power home a header from Erin Cuthbert’s corner.

And Kerr could have doubled the lead before we had a chance to regroup, finding a pocket of space inside the box and prodding an effort just wide of Roebuck’s far post a few minutes later.

City teetered under the visitors’ pressure but didn’t collapse, responding in defiant fashion just four minutes later.

And it was our wide players who were once again in the thick of the action.

Hemp found a pocket of space on the left, zipping a searching ball across goal which wrong footed Chelsea’s skipper, Millie Bright.

And Kelly was on hand for a simple tap in at the back post, catching Jonna Andersson napping with a typically darting run to claim a 14th goal of an impressive debut season.

However, City’s joy was short lived, as a frenetic first half swung back in the visitors’ favour on 34 minutes.

Picking up possession around the halfway line, Kerr scampered away from the attentions of Greenwood and drew a foul from the onrushing Roebuck inside the box, allowing Harder to restore Chelsea’s lead from the spot.

It was a frustrating goal for City to concede after we had worked so hard to get back into the game, but Gareth Taylor’s side didn’t allow their heads to drop as the half-time whistle approached.

Bronze was next to go close, forcing Berger into an impressive reaction save with an improvised volley on the turn.

And our full-back caused problems in the Chelsea rearguard once again early in the second half, driving forward and threading through a pass to Ellen White, but our captain couldn’t sort her feet out in time to pull the trigger.

City continued to probe for a route back into the game, forcing Emma Hayes’ side into speculative balls over the top with a relentless high press.

Despite having the pressure piled upon them our opponents held firm, getting bodies behind the ball to thwart our intricate passing play at every turn.

But a lapse in concentration 15 minutes from time presented Hemp with a chance that she wasn’t going to pass up.

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Fran Kirby’s miscued backpass landed at the feet of Kelly and the winger looked to cut the ball back for the onrushing Sam Mewis.

Bright was on hand to mop up the danger, but could only scuff her clearance into the path of Hemp, who made no mistake with a clinical first-time finish.

The equaliser gave City a new lease of life heading into the final 10 minutes, with Hemp inches away from hauling us ahead with a glancing header that was phenomenally tipped onto the bar by Berger.

However, Emma Hayes’ side reminded us of their threat on the counter, with substitute Guro Reiten flashing an effort just wide of the far post from the left.

The chances kept on coming with Georgia Stanway next to unleash a rasping drive towards goal which forced a smart save from Berger.

And as the game reached its dying embers, there was still time for both sides to almost land a stoppage time sucker punch, but Bronze’s header flashed just wide of the post, and Kerr was expertly denied by Roebuck when sent clean through.

While City will be frustrated not to have come away with maximum points, we strained every sinew in our quest to come out on top, and played a major role in one of the most entertaining encounters the WSL has ever seen.

Player of the match: Lauren Hemp

Against a Chelsea side known for soaking up pressure and hitting teams on the counter, width was always going to be crucial for City if they were to breach the best defence in the WSL.

Hemp was at the centre of that ambition, picking up an assist and a goal for her trouble in another outstanding performance.

How we lined up

Gareth Taylor made one change from Sunday’s FA Cup triumph, as Laura Coombs dropped to the bench in favour of Mewis.

Roebuck started between the sticks, shielded by a back four of Bronze, Dahlkemper, Greenwood and Demi Stokes.

Keira Walsh sat in front, with Mewis and Caroline Weir completing the midfielder three.

At the sharp end, Kelly and Hemp started on the flanks, providing width for White, deputising as captain once again for the injured Steph Houghton.

City XI: Roebuck, Bronze, Dahlkemper, Greenwood, Stokes, Walsh, Mewis (Stanway 75’), Weir, Kelly, White (Lavelle 64’), Hemp

Subs: Mannion, Coombs, Beckie, Morgan, Park, Benameur, Davies

Chelsea XI: Berger, Carter, Bright, Ingle, Andersson, Leupolz, Ji (Reiten 77’), Kirby (England 90’), Harder (Charles 62’), Cuthbert, Kerr

Subs: Music, Blundell, Fleming, Spence, Telford, Fox

Stat Attack

Chelsea have never beaten Manchester City away from home in the Women’s Super League (D5 L3), the only side they’ve visited more than once without managing to win in the competition.

Chloe Kelly‘s first half strike saw her move level with our leading scorer Sam Mewis on 14 goals for the season so far.

City have now gone 35 matches without defeat at the Academy Stadium, last losing inside 90 minutes back in September 2018.

Up Next

Gareth Taylor’s side now have until next Sunday to prepare for Birmingham City’s visit to the Academy Stadium on 2 May.

Our clash with the West Midlands outfit represents our penultimate match of the WSL season, so the team will be keen to pick up a crucial victory.