Sam Kerr wins fifth straight WSL title with Chelsea – as Mary Fowler endures public heartbreak
- The injured Sam Kerr was present at Chelsea’s celebrations
- Chelsea claimed the title for the fifth year in a row
- Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy came in second
Injured Sam Kerr attended Chelsea’s celebrations and was thrilled as her teammates became English Women’s Super League champions for the fifth consecutive year with a resounding 6-0 win at Manchester United.
Australian captain Kerr, who has played a big role in all five wins despite missing half of this season due to an ACL tear, received her winners’ medal on the Old Trafford pitch after Chelsea’s stunning win sealed the title on goal difference and secured the perfect victory. farewell for outgoing manager Emma Hayes.
But it was a day of disappointment for two of Kerr’s Matildas teammates, Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy, whose Manchester City side had to settle for second place despite a 2-1 win at Aston Villa.
Fowler scored their first goal, but it was not enough to take them to a big enough victory as City needed to both win and improve on Chelsea’s margin of victory by three goals.
Injured Sam Kerr (pictured) attended Chelsea’s celebrations as they became English Women’s Super League champions for the fifth consecutive year
Mary Fowler’s Manchester City had to settle for second place
That would never happen again after Mayra Ramirez scored the first of her double in just 89 seconds, the prelude to a dazzling individual performance from the Colombian striker, with two assists that even Kerr would have been proud of. .
Chelsea then destroyed United in front of a screaming Kerr and a VIP crowd, including Sir Alex Ferguson, who would have been in full blow-dryer mode if any of his teams had played so poorly.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Sjoeke Nusken, Melanie Leupolz and, emotionally, the outgoing Fran Kirby – Kerr’s old partner in a lethal Blues attacking combo – were all on the scoresheet to help coach Hayes to a seventh league title, the ideal way to take the club to leave. club before taking the U.S. women’s national team job.
Afterwards, as Kerr joined the celebrations in typically exuberant fashion, even singing her own version of Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘Siuuu!’ During the on-pitch celebration, Hayes hugged the Aussie who contributed so much to her annexation of 14 trophies as Chelsea boss.
Without her, Chelsea will have to go in a different direction next season and it is still unclear what role Kerr will play in their future.
Kerr has played a big role in all five of Chelsea’s wins despite missing half of this season due to an ACL tear
Still, the sight of Ramirez tearing through Old Trafford provided a tantalizing glimpse of what a fearsome double act they could prove to be once Kerr fully recovers from her injury.
“We’ve had some big injuries this year,” Hayes said, referring to Kerr and Millie Bright in particular.
“That’s why for me this is the best title, because we’re not stupid, we know we weren’t at our best. But if we win a title, wow. I’m sorry, I don’t think you guys realize how hard it is to win and win and win and win. I can hardly believe we won the title.’
Arsenal, with their three Matildas Kyra Cooney-Cross, Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord, ended the season with a 5–0 win over Brighton, strengthening their third-place finish.
