Lucy Bronze headed a second-half winner as Chelsea clinched their sixth successive Women’s Super League title with a 1-0 victory at Manchester United.
The England right-back finally broke the deadlock in a pulsating contest at Leigh Sports Village when she glanced a corner past the impressive Phallon Tullis-Joyce 16 minutes from time.
Arsenal’s defeat by Aston Villa earlier on Wednesday had opened the door for the Blues to wrap up yet another league success, their eighth in 10 seasons and a first under new manager Sonia Bompastor.
Yet with third-placed United needing points to secure Champions League qualification, it proved a tough task for a side still reeling from their European humiliation at the hands of Barcelona last weekend.
YOUR @BARCLAYSWSL CHAMPIONS FOR 24/25: CHELSEA!! pic.twitter.com/gVaDBiNj15
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) April 30, 2025
Despite a draw actually suiting both sides, neither showed any intention of playing for one.
In the end it fell to veteran Bronze, a previous title-winner with Manchester City and Liverpool, to finish the job, handing Bompastor’s side an unassailable nine-point lead at the top with two games to play.
Chelsea had been slow to assert themselves but first went close when Mayra Ramirez tested Tullis-Joyce from a tight angle.
Blues keeper Hannah Hampton produced a good save to prevent Melvine Malard giving United the lead and Grace Clinton’s effort on the rebound was also blocked.
AIR LUCY ✈️
The @ChelseaFCW defender rises high to head the ball into the net 🔥#BarclaysWSL pic.twitter.com/r7e9QEhL6H
— Barclays Women''s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) April 30, 2025
Chelsea suffered a blow when Ramirez was forced off injured but they started to create more as Erin Cuthbert, Niamh Charles and Millie Bright all had opportunities.
The visitors had a major let-off before the break after a poor backpass from Ramirez’s replacement Johanna Rytting Kaneryd allowed Malard through one-on-one with the keeper.
Hampton came to their rescue, first pushing the ball away from Malard and then getting up quickly to tip Clinton’s follow-up attempt over.
United appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty after Bright clashed with Clinton but carried their momentum into the second half, with Malard and Celin Bizet bringing further saves from Hampton.
Tullis-Joyce was also alert as play switched to the other end, reacting brilliantly to palm away an Aggie Beever-Jones curler and then block from Rytting Kaneryd and Cuthbert in quick succession.
United introduced Ella Toone and Elisabeth Terland just after the hour and the latter flashed a shot narrowly over within moments of coming on.
It seemed remarkable the game had not produced a goal but that changed after 74 minutes as Bronze rose highest at a corner to nod Sandy Baltimore’s cross past Tullis-Joyce.
It was a lead Chelsea, who have not lost in the WSL all season, did not look like relinquishing and the celebrations could soon begin.
Ange Postecoglou backed Tottenham to get the job done in Norway after they took a big step towards a place in the Europa League final with a 3-1 last-four first leg win over Bodo/Glimt.Spurs’ domestic struggles had been well-documented, but a sea of white flags and a tifo with club motto ‘To Dare is to Do’ greeted the team for only its second semi-final in a European competition ...
Ruben Amorim told his players that the job is not done despite Manchester United taking a giant step towards the Europa League final with a memorable away win at 10-man Athletic Bilbao.A return to San Mames for the May 21 showpiece against Bodo/Glimt or, more likely, Tottenham is within touching distance having seen out an early storm against a side desperately seeking to reach the final at their ...
Head coach Enzo Maresca warned the job is not done yet after his Chelsea team beat Djurgarden 4-1 in Stockholm to put one foot in the Conference League final.Nicolas Jackson struck twice in the second half while there were goals too for Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke as the Swedish side were outclassed.However, Chelsea have the recent memory of the quarter-final scare given to them by Legia Warsaw ...
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo admits his side are “struggling” as their Champions League hopes suffered a big blow with a 2-0 defeat to Brentford.Forest have looked a strong bet to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition after a brilliant season and they could have moved up to third in the Premier League with a win.But they faltered as goals from Kevin Schade a...
Tottenham took a big step towards a place in the Europa League final after a dazzling first-half display earned them a 3-1 win at home to Bodo/Glimt in their last four first leg tie.Brennan Johnson struck after only 38 seconds to appease an expectant home crowd before James Maddison fired a second for Ange Postecoglou’s men in the 34th minute.A third followed through Dominic Solanke from the...
Manchester United are on course to reach the Europa League final after Ruben Amorim’s side blew away 10-man Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in a stunning semi-final first leg in Spain.The Red Devils’ worst-ever Premier League campaign has meant it has long been a case of Bilbao or bust for them, with the May 21 showpiece back at the Basque outfit’s San Mames stadium.Athletic’s dreams o...
Chelsea all but ensured they will play in the Conference League final on May 28 as Nicolas Jackson’s two goals helped them sweep past Djurgarden 4-1 in Stockholm.The second leg at Stamford Bridge will be little other than a formality after this win, which also saw Jadon Sancho score just his fourth Chelsea goal while Noni Madueke got in on the act too.Djurgarden proved as weak as any opponen...
Nottingham Forest’s Champions League dream suffered a huge blow after they were beaten 2-0 by Brentford at the City Ground.Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have looked a strong bet to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition after a brilliant season and they could have moved up to third in the Premier League with a win.But they faltered as goals from Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa i...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Harry Maguiredinho vs Athletic Club Man Utd & Tottenham this season Nop Partey No Party Barca 3-3 Inter last night Harry Maguire against Athletic Club. Harrydinho. That's how you start the first leg of a European Semi-final lol Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, originaltrollfootball, PL__OOC)...
Manchester City are monitoring a number of goalkeepers ahead of the summer transfer window including FC Porto's Diogo Costa amid renewed uncertainty surrounding Ederson's future, a source has told ESPN.Ederson was close to moving to the Saudi Pro League last summer, and there is an expectation that the Brazil international will have more offers at the end of this season.A source has told ESPN that...
- 1 Keeping Oxford in Championship ranks top of my achievements – Gary Rowett
- 2 Malik Mothersille’s missed penalty proves costly for Peterborough
- 3 Omar Sowunmi earns Bromley dramatic draw at Barrow
- 4 Phoenix Patterson and Zech Medley on target as Fleetwood defeat Newport
- 5 Dimitri Payet breaks silence on claims made by his ex-lover
- 6 A sad, sad day – Miron Muslic accepts Plymouth’s relegation despite victory
- 7 Jimmy Thelin praises Kevin Nisbet’s moment of magic as Aberdeen beat Hibernian
- 8 Marcus Rashford set to miss rest of season
- 9 Sammy Winward’s daughter Mia Dunn, 19, poses topless for steamy snap
- 10 Steve Bruce bemoans ‘worst penalty decision’ as Blackpool held by Wigan