Chelsea Trash Man United 6-0 to Secure Fifth Straight Title
Chelsea secured a fifth successive Women’s Super League title by thrashing Manchester United at Old Trafford in what was Emma Hayes’ final game in charge.
Chelsea knew a win against Manchester United would secure a fifth straight title and an excellent chance to bid Emma Hayes farewell.
However, with Manchester City having the same points as the Blues and leading the table on goal difference, they knew a big scoreline was potentially needed to win the title.
And it didn’t take much for the Blues to stamp authority over the game as British record signing Mayra Ramirez scored in the opening two minutes of the game.
Goals from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Sjoeke Nusken, Melanie Leupolz and Fran Kirby added to Ramirez’s dazzling double ensured Chelsea marched to victory with a 6-0 win.
It was the perfect farewell for Hayes, who was full of emotion on a remarkable afternoon in Manchester, capping off a 12-year career at the Blues in style.
“I don’t think I have the energy for it [letting the emotions out] to be honest. It’s been an emotional week, probably a rollercoaster seven months. Staying on top of your own emotion is really tricky. I’m just relieved it’s over,” Hayes said.
England international Kirby who would also be leaving the club came on as a substitute for the final 20 minutes and was able to soak in the success she has played such a key part in throughout her Blues career.
“It is incredible, something I never dreamed could happen. They have been incredible to me throughout my Chelsea journey, especially in the last few weeks when they knew I was leaving. I can’t thank them enough for everything. The love they gave me today I will never forget,” She said.
Hayes will be traveling to the United States on Monday to take charge of the United States Women’s National Team and this was the perfect ending to her Chelsea tenure.
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Ahead of Chelsea’s title-deciding trip to Old Trafford, where a win over Manchester United was likely to clinch the Women’s Super League title, it was all about Emma Hayes and her final game in charge of the Blues.
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But Mayra Ramirez’s match-winning performance in a 6-0 thrashing was so good that it even overshadowed that narrative for large parts, the Colombia star returning from injury in time to put the Red Devils to the sword with two goals and two assists in an absolutely blistering individual display that helped Chelsea win a fifth successive league title.
There were only two minutes on the clock when Guro Reiten’s inch-perfect cross was met by Ramirez to break the deadlock, and just six more minutes had passed when the forward turned provider with a through ball that Johanna Rytting Kaneryd finished well.
United’s biggest chance came from a corner, perhaps unsurprisingly given their influence on last weekend’s FA Cup final triumph. But after Maya Le Tissier saw her header come back off the bar midway through the first half, Chelsea spent the next 20 minutes truly putting the game, and the title race, to bed.
The Blues’ third and fourth goals were devastating from Ramirez. First, she burst past Millie Turner and even left the England defender on the floor before teeing up Sjoeke Nusken for a tap-in, then a similarly destructive run into the box ended with the striker finishing for herself, a thumping shot far too powerful for Mary Earps to stop.
There was at least some brief respite for the Red Devils after the break, albeit only after Melanie Leupolz made it five straight after the restart – and there would be a sixth, as Fran Kirby came off the bench and bid farewell to the club with a goal on her final appearance.