Chelsea finish WSL season unbeaten after late winner against Liverpool
CHELSEA COMPLETED AN unbeaten Women's Super League campaign after Aggie Beever-Jones' stoppage-time goal secured a 1-0 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, while Arsenal took second place following a thrilling 4-3 victory over Manchester United.
The Blues had wrapped up the title with two games to spare and were given a guard of honour as they walked out ahead of kick-off.
Liverpool, though, dug in to frustrate the champions before academy graduate Beever-Jones fired in a late winner following a swift counter attack as Chelsea made history with a 22-match unbeaten WSL campaign.
Chelsea, who also won the League Cup, will be aiming to complete a domestic treble when they face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on May 18.
Arsenal made sure they finished as runners-up with a 4-3 win over Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.
Chloe Kelly had given the Gunners an early lead inside two minutes after United keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce dropped a ball into the box.
Ella Toone then headed in an equaliser from a corner in the 13th minute.
Advertisement
Mariona Caldentey's second-half penalty and goals from Frida Maanum and Kim Little looked to have put Arsenal – who face Barcelona in the Champions League final on May 24 – in cruise control.
United, though, set up a tense finish after substitute Elisabeth Terland clawed a goal back and then Maya Le Tissier converted a 76th-minute penalty.
Both teams had already secured European football for next season, but second place means Arsenal will go into the third Champions League qualifying round, while United – who finished four points behind the Gunners – must start in the second qualifying round.
Manchester City, outside the European places in fourth, beat relegated Crystal Palace 5-2 at the Joie Stadium, having twice been behind.
Ashleigh Weerden had given the Eagles a shock lead after just four minutes.
Although Brazil forward Kerolin soon had City back on level terms, Mille Gejl swept home a second for Palace shortly before half-time.
City recovered in the second half as substitute Jill Roord equalised at 2-2 before Rebecca Knaak scored two headers either side of a Kerolin strike.
Aston Villa claimed their fifth straight WSL win after beating Brighton 3-1.
Ebony Salmon opened the scoring at Villa Park with a curled finish after just five minutes.
Rachel Daly doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time and Mayumi Pacheco made sure of the points with 16 minutes left before Nikita Parris netted a late consolation for the Seagulls, who finish fifth.
Leicester ended their WSL season with a 4-2 victory over West Ham.
Janice Cayman's fine strike gave the Foxes a ninth-minute lead, with Hannah Cain adding another late in the first half.
Viviane Asseyi scored twice for the Irons after the break, but a second of the afternoon for Wales international Cain and a neat finish over the goalkeeper from Sam Tierney wrapped up the points.
Everton and Tottenham played out a 1-1 draw at Walton Hall Park.
Veatriki Sarri put the Toffees ahead in the 11th minute following a free-kick, but Drew Spence had Spurs level on the half hour.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Nations League joy for Portugal after penalty shootout victory against Spain
Diogo Costa was the shootout hero as Portugal won the Nations League by defeating defending champions Spain 5-3 on penalties after twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 in Munich. Porto goalkeeper Costa denied Alvaro Morata from the spot before Ruben Neves slammed home the next kick to seal glory for Roberto Martinez's men. Talk of the first meeting between 40-year-old Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and 17-year-old Spain winger Lamine Yamal dominated the build-up to the Allianz Arena showdown. Ronaldo's 61st-minute equaliser forced extra time but both players had been substituted by the time an absorbing contest was decided from 12 yards. Mikel Oyarzabal had earlier given Spain a half-time lead after the opening goal from his Real Sociedad team-mate Martin Zubimendi was cancelled out by impressive Portugal full-back Nuno Mendes. Portugal celebrated a second Nations League triumph, having won the inaugural tournament in 2019, with Ronaldo pictured in tears following the shootout. Goals seemed extremely likely in Bavaria, with Euro 2024 winners Spain having reached the final with a thrilling 5-4 win over France, while Portugal came from behind to beat Germany 2-1. Pedri and Nico Williams each threatened before Luis de la Fuente's side capitalised on their early ascendancy with a scrappy 21st-minute opener. Oyarzabal sparked the attack with a delightful flick in midfield and, after Portugal goalkeeper Costa and defenders Ruben Dias and Joao Neves made a mess of dealing with Yamal's delivery into the box, Zubimendi was on hand for a simple finish into the unguarded net. Portugal trailed for just four minutes. Marauding left-back Mendes - fresh from his Champions League triumph with Paris St Germain - claimed the leveller, bursting into the box beyond Oscar Mingueza to blast an angled drive into the bottom right corner for his first international goal. Martinez's side enjoyed increased possession and were largely subduing Spain before falling behind again in the final minute of the half. With Portuguese players appealing for a foul on Bernardo Silva by Robin Le Normand, Pedri drove forward and poked the ball through for Oyarzabal - who scored the winner in last summer's European Championship final against England - to divert an instinctive, first-time finish past Costa. Bruno Fernandes briefly thought he had levelled four minutes into the second period but Pedro Neto was offside before providing the assist. A second equaliser of the evening eventually arrived with 29 minutes to go. Mendes breezed past Yamal on Portugal's left and, after his low cross looped up off Le Normand, Ronaldo held off Marc Cucurella to volley home his 138th goal for his country. With the clock ticking towards an additional half an hour, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner limped off two minutes from time to be replaced by Goncalo Ramos. Portugal substitute Nelson Semedo scuffed wide early in extra time, while tempers threatened to boil over during a brief flashpoint after Mendes went down in Spain's box under a challenge from Alex Baena. Yamal was withdrawn ahead of a cagey second period of extra time before Portugal held their nerve to prevail on spot-kicks, with Spain substitute Morata the only man to miss. Earlier, Kylian Mbappe scored his 50th goal for France to help them claim third place with a 2-0 victory over Germany in Stuttgart. Germany spurned several chances to take the lead, most notably when Florian Wirtz saw his effort come back off the goal frame, before Mbappe struck on the stroke of half-time to put France ahead. Mbappe is now just one goal off Thierry Henry as France's second all-time leading goalscorer, and the Real Madrid forward then teed up substitute Michael Olise late on to secure a win for the visitors. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan was just as important for France, who lost a nine-goal semi-final thriller to Spain on Thursday, in this third-placed play-off as he made several important saves throughout.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
"It's something we've come away from as a nation" - Ireland's Dara O'Shea
Dara O'Shea reckons Ireland have found what they were looking for - and if it's good enough for PSG, it's good enough for the Boys in Green. It's not reinventing the wheel either, more so a return to solid, old fashioned values that the Ipswich Town defender feels were missing. Results will dictate whether Heimir Hallgrimsson gets to extend his contract as Ireland manager, because his current deal expires at the end of the World Cup campaign. That means the FAI could be embarking on yet another managerial hunt in November, if Ireland finish third or bottom of a group containing Portugal, Hungary and Armenia. A second-placed finish would extend Hallgrimsson's stay into a playoff semi-final in March, and a final if they win that. And top spot means Ireland will qualify automatically for the 2026 showpiece in America, Canada and Mexico - but that's a tall order. It is notable how bullish Hallgrimsson has been in his belief that Ireland can qualify. He's not shying away from it and, in turn, nor are his players. Hallgrimsson has already said that he got Iceland to the 2018 World Cup with players he feels are not as good as the ones currently at his disposal. Stephen Kenny wasn't shy about making big statements about his Ireland team going into qualifying campaigns, but most of those were over almost as soon as they began. Hallgrimsson has restored a degree of pragmatism to the whole approach, and O'Shea is one of his most trusted lieutenants. And the significance of going unbeaten in the three games this year is not lost on the defender, going into tomorrow's friendly in Luxembourg. O'Shea said: 'We understand the way the manager wants us to play and how he wants us to be as a nation. That's the identity of us as Irish people too. 'Against Senegal, our reaction in the middle of the park, we lost the ball, we got around it. There were some big tackles, some big blocks. That's something that we've kind of come away from as a nation, which we should never - that's our identity, we're hard working people. 'With every successful team, the fundamental is hard work. You watch PSG in the Champions League final, they've got all the talent in the world but they worked hard as well and that's what got them there. We've that embedded in us as Irish people, so we've got to show that on the pitch and not take the moments for granted.' On Friday, Ireland were on track for a third win on the spin only to concede to Senegal eight minutes from time and settle for a 1-1 draw. But after putting Bulgaria to the sword twice in March, it means Ireland remain unbeaten in 2025 and O'Shea insists that's not to be sniffed at. 'There's obviously a mentality aspect of football and winning games and keeping that momentum going is massive,' he said. 'It's something we haven't really had as a nation for a while now. It's something this group hasn't had at all really. 'So it's important that we keep building and don't take the games for granted because before we know it we'll be in the World Cup campaign and right in the thick of it. 'You only get one chance to qualify, so it's important that we make the most of every moment we can. The manager believes in us as a group and he believes in himself. That's massive when you can feel the manager believes in you as a group.' On the club front, O'Shea is reeling after Ipswich were relegated but he is already the subject of fresh Premier League interest for next season. A clubmate of Ireland internationals Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics and Jack Taylor, O'Shea had a strong individual season and performed well in a losing side. Wolves, Leeds and his former club Burnley are all reportedly keen on making a move this summer. But O'Shea said: 'I'm fully committed to Ipswich at the moment. I've got another four years there and I want to get the club back into the Premier League. 'I'm ambitious as a player and obviously I want to be playing in the Premier League but I know it's not as easy as that. Whatever happens in football it happens for a reason. You have a journey and you've got to stick to that sometimes.' O'Shea added: 'I feel like I'm well capable of playing in the Premier League and I've got to get myself back there now. I spoke to the gaffer at Ipswich and that's the task he's set me - to carry on those standards of a Premier League player and still owe it to myself to be like that. 'It's really hard when you come off the back of relegation but I'm happy with how I played. I've grown into a leader and I play better when I have that responsibility.'
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Portugal 2 Spain 2 (5-3 pens): Tearful Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, wins third international trophy as Morata misses penalty
PORTUGAL tasted Nations League glory for a second time with Cristiano Ronaldo playing a starring role – and Chelsea flop Alvaro Morata the villain. After winning the inaugural 2019 edition, Roberto Martinez's men are champions once more in a thrilling finale in Munich, fighting back twice to draw level against reigning European champions Spain. 9 Portugal beat Spain 5-3 on penalties in the Nations League final 9 Cristiano Ronaldo broke down in tears after Ruben Neves scored the last spot-kick 9 Diogo Costa saved Alvaro Morata's penalty And Spain's Morata missed his spot-kick for Ruben Neves to slot home the winner. Both nations were vying to become the first to lift the Nations League twice. A slow start was thrust into life by a READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS Yamal at the heart of it, his delicious cross was made a mess of by a scrambling Portugal defence, allowing soon-to-be Spain were 4-0 up after 55 minutes in their 5-4 semi thriller against France last week, but It ended with Mendes firing low into the bottom corner in the 26th minute, but not before a VAR check that judged Ronaldo to have timed his run to perfection. The final say of the first half was Spain's. Most read in Football 9 Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring in the 21st minute 9 Nuno Mendes levelled the scores within five minutes 9 Mikel Oyarzabal made it 2-1 on the stroke of half-time 9 CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS hearts in the Euros final in Berlin last summer producing another big goal in Munich. Martinez responded by bringing on Neves and Nelson Semedo at the break, and it almost had an instant impact as Bruno Fernandes had a 49th minute strike ruled out for offside. Cristiano Ronaldo's bodyguard Hichman Bukhari talks about the risks of protecting the football superstar An equaliser was coming and Ronaldo reacted first to a deflected looped cross that bamboozled He hobbled off with a muscular injury in the 88th minute, while Yamal was subbed in the 106th minute, as the game became niggly with a VAR red-check following a mass melee. Goncalo Ramos, Vitinha , Bruno Fernandes and Nuno Mendes all slotted home their penalties before Neves became the hero. 9 Ronaldo equalised in the 61st minute - his 138rd international goal 9 Ronaldo limped off injured in the the 87th minute
