An incredible save from Ann-Katrin Berger denied Lauren Hemp’s influential second half performance and kept Chelsea in pole position to retain the WSL title.
This was undoubtedly the biggest game of the season as both sides came into this fixture with only two points between them at the top of the WSL with only three games to play, including this one.
The winner of this game would likely decide the title race and the stage was set for a massive clash as both sides came into this game having not lost or conceded in their last six league games, with City looking to break the record of the largest winning streak in WSL history, this would have been their 13th successive victory.
The home side looked more dangerous early on, with Sam Mewis pulling the strings in the middle of the park, allowing Chloe Kelly a lot of freedom on the Manchester right wing.
It would be the defending champions that would take the lead with just over twenty minutes played as Millie Bright played a ball over the top to Sam Kerr, who couldn’t keep herself centred to challenge Ellie Roebuck, and the ball would go out for a corner.
Kerr would immediately make amends from the set piece though, getting in front of her marker and heading a powerful effort towards the near post that Alex Greenwood couldn’t deflect out, giving Chelsea a one-nil lead.
The goal would ignite the game as the Londoners almost doubled their lead immediately after as the familiar sight of Fran Kirby playing a ball behind for Kerr almost came off, but the Australian international would fire wide with her first-time effort.
The title chasers would respond instantly as Lauren Hemp would run down the left wing and put a low cross in for Kelly at the back post to tap in and level the tie at one-apiece.
Chelsea would quickly restore their lead, however as Kerr went on a mazy run, and tried to dribble the ball past City ‘keeper Ellie Roebuck but would be brought down and referee Rebecca Welch would signal to the spot, awarding Chelsea with a penalty.
Star signing Pernille Harder would step up and coolly roll the ball down the middle to beat Roebuck from the spot and put the league leaders back in front.
With less than ten minutes to play in the half, City would almost equalise again as a free kick would bounce into the Chelsea penalty area, allowing Lucy Bronze to turn and volley, but her effort would be tipped over the bar by Ann-Katrin Berger to preserve her side’s two-one lead going into the break.
The second half began with Emma Hayes’ side looking eager to protect their lead and frustrate Manchester City. The league leaders would sit a lot deeper in defence than they had in the first half and looked to attack City on the counter with the pace of Kerr and Kirby.
A large portion of the half was spent with City struggling to penetrate Chelsea’s back line, with Lauren Hemp providing being the catalyst for the majority of the hosts’ offensive efforts with her weaving runs.
The game would reignite once again as an uncharacteristic error from Fran Kirby allowed the Manchester outfit to equalise once again.
A loose back pass from Kirby was closed down by Kelly and she would play a ball into the box meant for substitute Rose Lavelle, but Millie Bright’s mishit clearance knocked the ball into the path of Hemp, who beat Berger at the bottom-right corner to bring the score to two-two.
The urgency of the game would be clear as Manchester City would have known that one more goal would put them in pole position for the title and five minutes later, they almost completed the comeback as a corner would find the head of Hemp, but an absolutely incredible reaction save from Berger would tip the effort onto the crossbar and out of trouble, a save that could win the title for her side.
Chelsea would manage to control the rest of the game and despite pressure from City, and a late header from Bronze that just flew wide of the near post, they were able to secure a two-two draw that was clearly treated like a win for the Londoners after their post-match celebrations.
The draw leaves Chelsea still at the top of the WSL by a margin of two points with two games to play.
Manchester City will hope for Chelsea to slip up in one of their remaining two games against Tottenham and Reading, while they will absolutely have to win their remaining games against Birmingham and West Ham.
The Inbound Observer 