Thank you for joining me for this match. Chelsea top the WSL table heading into the final round but they only lead Manchester City on goal difference. The title will be decided on the final day of the season for the fourth campaign running. Will Chelsea come out on top again? We will have to wait and see. The Guardian will have live coverage of Chelsea and Man City’s games this weekend so make sure you tun into those. For now have a read of the report from tonight’s match and have a good evening:
So what does the final day of the WSL season look like? Here are the fixtures for the 18 May:
Arsenal v Brighton
Manchester United v Chelsea
Aston Villa v Manchester City
Bristol City v Everton
Leicester City v Liverpool
Tottenham v West Ham
Tottenham’s Amanda Nilden went off on a stretcher with an ankle injury and the manager was asked about her condition post-match. “We’re going to do an x-ray tomorrow,” he told the BBC. “How bad it is we need to look at it. She will probably not play this weekend.”
Tottenham manager Robert Vilahamn told the BBC: If you look at the performance it’s a really good performance. We bounced back from the [FA Cup] final and played some really good football. You can tell now we can compete against the top teams. Happy for the girls but I want to win this games, but it’s not this year, it’s next year.”
A word on Tottenham, who played really well tonight. Their second half performance had Emma Hayes looking nervous on the sidelines. It made it a tense encounter and if they had taken their chances they could have not just equalised but potentially won the game too. Robert Vilahamn is taking them on a very promising journey.
Both Chelsea and Man City are without their star strikers as well. Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel are out with ACL injuries for Chelsea and Bunny Shaw has a broken foot for City.
So how will the title race be decided? There are many permutations, here they are:
If Man City win and Chelsea draw or lose then City win
If Chelsea win and Man City draw or lose then Chelsea win
If they both win it will be decided on goal difference
If they both draw Chelsea will win on goal difference
If they both lose it will be decided on goal difference
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes told the BBC: “You have to work hard in every game in this league, you have to earn it. the league is getting more competitive. It is a great product. Spurs put in a great effort, second half in particular.
“We need the whole bench, no matter who starts.
“I am not afraid to put young players in, they are players for the future. Maika [Hamano] is in on merit, she has been good in training.
“I think we have the tougher of the two games [on the final day]. It is a fitting finale for me. I said to the players if someone gives you a second chance in life, make sure a third chance isn’t needed.”
Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert told the BBC: “They are all significant. We knew we had to win tonight to still be in it. We can enjoy the moment, enjoy tonight and refresh and recover.
“I think we had a few chances, I think what is impressive is we kept out back door shut.
“I’ll make sure we do in the dressing room come Saturday. No matter the result at least we can look at each other and say we gave it everything.”
Macario pushes Hayes towards the travelling fans, the cheer her. A lovely moment.
What a game! I am exhausted after trying to keep up with the action. Tottenham were absolutely electric in the second 45, if they played like that in the first half I am unsure Chelsea would have got the result there. But it is Hamano’s goal that separates the sides.
Full time: Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea
Chelsea manage to see out this tense and close encounter. Spurs put up an incredible fight in the second half but the defending champions managed to steer it home. The Blues are top.
90 + 4 min: Spurs look to counter but Bright manages to see it out. Cuthbert concedes a free kick and it’s in a good position for Tottenham. Could they score a late equaliser? No. Chelsea manage to contain the chance.
90 + 2 min: There will be four minutes added here. Charles tries to cross it in but Spurs do well to clear, this second half Tottenham performance has been so good.
90 + 1 min: Cuthbert delivers the corner well but the whistle is gone for a foul in the box. A wasted opportunity again.
90 min: Spurs come forward, is this the goal? Not yet. England passes to Clinton but her shot is wide. Chelsea come forward now and Kaneryd does so well to keep it alive. It comes to Cuthbert who wins a corner.
88 min: This really has an air of Man City Arsenal. Tottenham feel like they are going to score and they could do so in the dying minutes. How are you feeling Chelsea and Man City fans?
86 min: The ball comes to Kirby, she makes a great run but her finish was awful and it’s over the bar.
84 min: Chelsea come forward through James, whose foot injury seems behind her, but Spurs do well to clear when it comes into the box. Gordon has emailed and said: “This one is bubbling up nicely, in the manner of Liverpool vs Chelsea. The Blues are not playing well at all, and even if they win tonight, I can’t see them beating Manchester United on Saturday. For me, Manchester City are the favourites to take the title.”
Yes this is far from a complete Chelsea performance. I agree City will be favourites if Chelsea turn up like this on Saturday, if Chelsea see this out Man City will just have to make sure they score enough in case Chelsea beat United.
82 min: Spence is coming off, hopefully that isn’t serious, and Graham is on.
81 min: Spence is down here and in need of some treatment, a break in play.
81 min: A pass comes in for Chelsea in the box but Beever-Jones can’t pick it up from Kaneryd. A foul then happens on a Spurs player and they are able to clear. Chelsea make a double change with James on for Beever-Jones and Kirby is on for Reiten.
79 min: Spurs do so well to dispossess Chelsea, that was expertly done. Thomas strides forward and she tries to hit a long pass to England but it has too much on it and Musovic clears. Chelsea may be in control on the scoreboard but Tottenham are behind the wheel of this game at the moment.
Updated
77 min: Cuthbert sends it in with Macario off but the delivery is not good. Chelsea continue to press but England tries to clear, it comes to Reiten whose shot is wide. Heart in the mouth moment.
75 min: Tottenham have a free kick after Cuthbert puts in a foul, it is a good delivery but Chelsea clear. This game really is in the balance, it feels so tense. Chelsea stream forward and Cuthbert has a good run, she tries to cross but Grant blocks well to concede a corner.
74 min: Not only would another goal for Chelsea secure this game, it would also bolster their goal difference. If Chelsea and Man City win all of their remaining games the title will be decided by goal difference. But at the moment Spurs look the more likely to score in this second half.
72 min: Chelsea make a triple change with Carter, Kaneryd and Nusken on for Lawrence, Hamano and Macario.
70 min: Leupolz wanted a free kick from a foul by Spence but nothing is given and rightly so, she wins the ball. Chelsea are still attacking and Macario wins a corner. It’s a good delivery but it’s a great clearance header from Thomas.
68 min: Bjorn clears but concedes a corner, that is what Thomas brings the pressure for a goal. Summanen takes the corner again, it’s headed towards goal but James-Turner but Musovic does well to read it to collect.
67 min: Phenomenal bit of play for Bizet, she gets through two Chelsea players but her resulting cross is cleared by Bright. Spurs now make a double change with Thomas and Bizet for Naz and Vinberg.
65 min: She is okay to continue, a good sign for Chelsea. A bad sign for the Blues is Thomas getting ready to come on, we wait for her introduction, she has been so good for Spurs this season.
63 min: Beever-Jones has stayed down after a challenge, the whistle only blew to see if the player is okay so no free kick I don’t think.
62 min: Macario sends it in but it is cleared well, it comes to Hamano who passes to Macario. It is put back in but it’s shepherded to Votikova. There is a frantic air to this second half, the control Chelsea had in the first 45 has evaporated. The Blues then have a free kick with Grant fouling Cuthbert, they take it quickly and it comes to Beever-Jones whose back heel goes out for a goal kick. So much action!
60 min: Naz had a good run but Bjorn does enough to win it back and then Bright clears. Chelsea have a patient build-up and it comes to Macario who rushes her shot from outside the box and it’s easily cleared. The Blues come again but James-Turner concedes a corner.
58 min: Macario pops it into the box but it rolls all the way to the other wing to Charles. She passes to Reiten, who gets in a great position but Summanen defends well to stop the chance.
56 min: Chelsea have a bit of possession to let some pressure out of the valve but they look under the cosh. Emma Hayes’ side looked desperate in defence from that corner, if Spurs can keep picking at that scab a goal will come.
54 min: Summanen’s delivery is inch perfect, the shot from Buhler is saved well by Musovic but it isn’t controlled. It comes to Neville but her effort is over the bar. They are really pushing here.
53 min: Charles sees it out for another corner as Tottenham keep up their pressure, a really good spell for the hosts.
52 min: Summanen delivers but Bright is able to clear initially. Neville gets a great ball to Spence but Bright comes up with the goods again. Tottenham are looking deadly at the moment.
51 min: Macario wants a free kick but it is not given and Tottenham stream forward. They work it well in the box and it’s deflected out by Bjorn, Spurs corner.
51 min: Spurs are the brighter in this half so far, Chelsea have a spell on the ball now but then can’t find space up front.
49 min: Spurs then give away a throw in, they play it back to Musovic. The clearance from the keeper is poor and England picks it up, she passes to Naz but Bjorn does really well to nab the ball back.
47 min: Tottenham have possession early on in this second half but Charles intercepts for a throw in.
Back underway! Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea
The second 45 is underway. Chelsea are in the driving seat but Spurs have shown enough in this game to suggest they could get a goal. All to play for.
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Miedema’s departure from Arsenal has been a big topic in women’s football this week. Manager Jonas Eidevall has been hit with criticism for the call to not offer the forward another contract. Arsenal legend Ian Wright has had his say:
On Viv. Unbelievable player. On her day unplayable. Also a lot of things behind the scenes that Viv has been instrumental in changing and voicing her frustration with things that has moved the club forward over many years. I have a lot of love for her. But it's football. Arsenal…
— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) May 15, 2024
Here is Hamano’s goal (if you are outside the UK you may not be able to view the video):
A huge goal in the WSL title race! ✨
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 15, 2024
Maika Hamano!
📲📺 Watch on BBC Four and @BBCiPlayer#BBCWSL #TOTCHE pic.twitter.com/RSUuJKKu7M
Updated
Half-time: Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea
Chelsea kept knocking on the door but Tottenham were repelling them. However, eventually the deadlock was broken through a clinical finish by Hamano. As things stand Chelsea are top of the table but the second half could change that landscape.
45 + 7 min: Naz has a fantastic run, she weaves into the box and picks out a cross but no one is there to head it home.
45 + 6 min: Tottenham are alive here, Clinton gets a good ball from Naz but her effort is just wide.
45 + 5 min: Tottenham break here through England and they get in a great position. Bizet receives it on the edge of the box but her cross in is collected by Musovic.
45 + 3 min: Nilden is stretchered off, her hands are on her head. Hamano came across to see if she is okay, nice sportsmanship there. Grant is now on.
45 + 1 min: There will be four minutes added. Nilden was on the deck for quite a whole and eventually get back to her feet with some help from Neville. She is soon sat back on the pitch, this doesn’t look good.
Updated
44 min: Reiten pops it into the area but it’s too high and Hamano cannot connect. Nilden was defending Hamano and she landed awkwardly, she needs treatment.
43 min: Chelsea are pressing for a second before half-time but a pass has too much on it and Spurs can clear with a goal kick.
41 min: Beever-Jones wins a free kick from a foul from Spence, it is on the halfway line and so they will have to build from deep. They run it back to Musovic and they launch an attack but Spurs eventually win it back.
39 min: Hamano looks ecstatic to have her first goal. Reiten whipped it into the box and Hamano takes a first touch finish. Gilly Flaherty on comms is saying James-Turner is not getting close enough to Macario when Chelsea attack.
Updated
GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea (Hamano, 37')
Hamano has her first Blues goal.
36 min: After all of Chelsea’s early pressure they have nothing to show for it and the Blues don’t seem as dominant in the last 10 minutes. Spurs have really settled into this one and are doing enough to contain the defending champions at the moment. Another example there with Macario taking a punt at goal with Votikova saving easily.
34 min: England manager Sarina Wiegman is watching on from the stands here. A good period of possession for Spurs here but they haven’t done much with it.
32 min: A scrappy but of play in the box and Chelsea try to break the deadlock. There is a bit of miscommunication between the Tottenham defenders and goalkeeper but Votikova eventually collects.
30 min: Reiten finds Cuthbert but she is muscled off the ball, Chelsea have everything but the final touch and shot so far. A reminder that Chelsea need to win this match to keep their title hopes alive. It would still be possible for Chelsea to win but their chances would be severely diminished.
28 min: Tottenham give away another free kick, this time on the opposite side of the box. The same Chelsea players are over it, Reiten send sit in this time but Spurs manage to clear it. When the camera zoomed in on Macario’s face it shows she is bleeding. I don’t know how she got the scratch but it looks painful.
26 min: Buhler fouls Beever-Jones and Chelsea have a free kick in a good position. Macario and Reiten are standing over the set piece ball but it is Macario who takes it. The delivery is poor as it has too much on it and it’s out for a goal kick. A wasted opportunity.
24 min: Clinton has a worldie of a turn to continue Spurs’ attack but the shot she then takes it miles off target. Both sides have had opportunities but lack the killer edge to break the deadlock.
22 min: How has Reiten not scored? She finds space, takes a few touches but James-Turner has a great intervention to prevent a goal. I am aware I just answered my own question.
20 min: The ball drops to Cuthbert and the fans in the crowd urge her to shoot, she takes their advice but the long range shot is collected by Votikova. The Blues keep creating chances but their execution is not there, this time Reiten is found in the box but her shot is miles over the bar.
18 min: Spurs’ press is really suffocating Chelsea’s attack at the moment. The players do not have enough time to think about their pass and they are being forced backwards.
17 min: Naz has some space by the halfway line and instead of passing to her teammate she takes a long range effort but Musovic is able to save.
15 min: Reiten works the ball around Neville expertly and she lays it off but no Chelsea player is there to pick it up. Chelsea come forward again and Charles has a great run, she pops it into the area towards Hamano but her header is over the bar. That should have been 1-0.
Updated
13 min: England has a superb ball for Naz but she mistimes her run and she is offside, if that came off it would have been a great opportunity for Tottenham. There is no sign of the FA Cup final hurt in their performance at the moment.
11 min: On the replay there is handball but it would have been slightly harsh I think if a penalty was given. But I can also see why the Chelsea players are feeling aggrieved. England is down with injury here and she takes a breather but she is okay to continue, she didn’t need treatment.
9 min: Chelsea players all erupt as they believe there was handball and they wanted a penalty but it is not given by referee Emily Heaslip. There is no VAR in operation and so we play on.
8 min: Charles has a great run down the left and it is popped into the area, it’s a good ball but Spurs do really well to track it and clear. The visitors are slowly growing into this game and Reiten gets it into the box again but it is over the head of Beever-Jones.
6 min: It looked as though Spurs had found some space with Naz’ fast pace but she is judged offside. From the free kick Chelsea launch an attack, they are patient with their build-up but Reiten passes to Beever-Jones. She gets a shot away but Votikova is strong again.
4 min: Tottenham are pressing Chelsea and so far it is paying off, a loose pass is picked up by England. Spurs try to unleash an attack but Bright cuts it out. The captain finds Macario who pops in a long range effort but Votikova saves quite easily. Both finding their feet in this one.
2 min: Naz tries to ignite something early doors but it us out for a Chelsea throw. The Blues then clear. It has been quite a week for Naz as she was called up for the England squad as a reserve.
Kick-off! Tottenham 0-0 Chelsea
Here we go then. Can Chelsea continue their charge for the title? Or will Tottenham have a say? All to come.
Have you been reading our free weekly women’s football newsletter, Moving the Goalposts? If not I would recommend signing up, it delivers interviews and global news with it dropping into you inbox with no further spam. This week Rikke Sevecke has written about her retirement because of a heart condition:
The transfer window is just around the corner and I am wondering which player you would like your club to sign this summer. Let me know via email or X (@rendellx). Of course snack chat emails are also welcome!
The title race is really hotting up, if Chelsea lose tonight it is hard to see them lifting the trophy on Saturday. However, it would still be possible. They would need to beat Manchester United on the last day of the season and for Aston Villa to defeat Manchester City. The title would then be decided on goal difference.
If Chelsea win tonight, it would be enough to lift the trophy either. They would still need to go for the win against United. If they lost to United and City beat Aston Villa then Gareth Taylor’s side would win the trophy.
If Chelsea and Man City win all of their remaining games the title will be decided on goal difference. Chelsea are currently +1 in goal difference.
“Now it’s City fans watching Tottenham midweek,” Zach Neeley emails after Arsenal fans tuned in to watch City’s men take on Spurs last night. “Hoping they’ll get a win against their title rivals. I think they should probably have the same low hopes that Arsenal fans had yesterday.”
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Spurs manager Robert Vilahamn has said: “We had a really good performance against Chelsea in the first game of the season and, now, we are here in the second to last game of the campaign, so it will be good to see how we compete against them because, when they have a good day, they are probably one of the top four sides in the world.
“We want to try to compete and go for the win, but we also accept that, sometimes, we might need to defend.”
This is Emma Hayes’ final week at Chelsea as she will depart this summer to become the new head coach of the USWNT. She has said: “I’m going to enjoy being in this position. You don’t often get into a position where you are competing for a title going into the last two games of a season. For those of us who have won titles, we know how hard it is.
“I’m happy to be in the position we’re in. I know we have two tough games but I’m looking forward to them.”
Tottenham fullback Charli Grant has defended her Australia teammate and best friend Kyra Cooney-Cross this week after a picture emerged of the Arsenal player wearing a Spurs scarf. She was wearing it at the FA Cup final where she was supporting her friend. Full story:
One of the biggest stories in the WSL this week has been Arsenal announcing Vivianne Miedema will leave the club on a free this summer. It has been reported the club did not offer the Gunners legend a new deal. All the details are here:
The team news is here. Tottenham have kept their side largely the same from the Women’s FA Cup final but one notable change is the goalkeeper. Votikova starts ahead of Spencer.
Tottenham:
Our line-up for #TOTCHE 📋
— Tottenham Hotspur Women (@SpursWomen) May 15, 2024
COYS 🤍 pic.twitter.com/WnQiM9bSBT
For Chelsea, Macario starts with James on the bench. Musovic also starts in goal ahead of Hampton.
Chelsea:
The XI. 👊#CFCW pic.twitter.com/buYVAEqMzf
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 15, 2024
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to our Women’s Super League coverage. Tonight we focus on a game which could help determine the winner of this season’s league as Chelsea take on Tottenham.
The match is the game in hand Chelsea have because of their Women’s Champions League run, which was ended by Barcelona in the semi-finals. The Blues currently trail Manchester City by three points at the top of the table. If Emma Hayes’ team beat Spurs this evening they would go top of the table, sharing the same points as City but ahead on goal difference.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are looking to bounce from their Women’s FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United. They were defeated 4-0 at Wembley last Sunday and so it is a quick turnaround for this match. Despite the emotional toll the final would have taken, they will be more than capable of causing an upset tonight.
Grace Clinton has been a star for Spurs this season but was unable to play in the final because she could not compete against parent club United. She will be among those hungry for a result this evening. We will find out if she is in the starting team shortly so stay tuned ahead of kick-off at 7.15pm BST.
