Manchester United secured a Champions League spot for next season after a thrilling 2-2 draw with local rivals Manchester City. Despite trailing 2-0, United fought back to claim the point they needed to seal a top-three finish in the WSL. Goals from Laia Aleixandri and Rebecca Knaak had initially given City a commanding lead, but United’s response was strong, with a header from Grace Clinton halving the deficit before halftime. The equalizer came in the 68th minute, as Melvine Malard capitalized on a pass from Elisabeth Terland to slot past City goalkeeper Khiara Keating. This crucial goal guaranteed United’s place in Europe, with Arsenal and City facing one final match on the last day of the season to determine the final Champions League spot.
United’s comeback was all the more impressive considering the adversity they faced. Earlier, a controversial decision ruled out a goal from Elisabeth Terland, with the forward being penalized for pushing Aleixandri just before City’s goals. In a tense match, the home side had to endure further setbacks, including the sending off of Aoife Mannion, who received a second yellow card for a foul on Kerolin. Despite the numerical disadvantage, United held firm, and the result meant they no longer had to rely on other outcomes to secure their Champions League qualification.
On the other side of Manchester, City were left to reflect on a disappointing season. They had the opportunity to salvage something from the campaign with a victory, but they ultimately fell short. As City pressed for a winner in the final stages, United held on, managing to maintain their place in the top three and give themselves a boost before their final match against Arsenal and a third successive FA Cup final appearance against Chelsea.
In other WSL action, Chelsea extended their unbeaten season with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham. The match, held at Tottenham’s stadium, saw Chelsea clinch the league title with one game left to play. Catarina Macario’s first-half penalty was the difference between the two sides, with Spurs struggling to break down Chelsea’s defense. The win gave Chelsea a 12-point lead over second-place Arsenal, who still had a game to play against Brighton. Chelsea’s dominance throughout the season has been clear, and they now head into their final match with a perfect league record in sight.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace and Leicester City played out an intense match that ended 2-2. Leicester initially took the lead through Hannah Cain’s goal just before halftime, but Palace fought back in the second half. Annabel Blanchard equalized from the penalty spot, and the game appeared to be heading for a draw. However, Abbie Larkin scored a dramatic late goal to cancel out what had looked to be a stoppage-time winner from Shannon O’Brien for Leicester. The draw means both teams remain in the lower half of the table, with Crystal Palace still in the relegation fight.
West Ham United and Aston Villa faced off in a high-scoring affair, with Villa emerging victorious 3-2. The match was full of twists and turns, with West Ham’s Shekiera Martinez and Aston Villa’s Chasity Grant both finding the back of the net. Villa’s Rachel Daly equalized after Riko Ueki had put West Ham ahead, but it was Grant’s decisive strike that gave Villa all three points. Villa’s recent form has been impressive, with the team securing six wins in their last ten matches, including four consecutive victories.
