Sports
Chelsea Rout Man United, Crowned Women’s Super League Champions
Chelsea were crowned Women’s Super League champions for a fifth successive season as boss Emma Hayes bowed out in style with a title-clinching 6-0 rout of Manchester United on Saturday.
Hayes’ side went into the last day of the season ahead of second-placed Manchester City on goal difference in a thrilling finish to the title race.
Chelsea raced into a four-goal lead by half-time at Old Trafford and, with City unable to match that spree in their 2-1 win at Aston Villa, the silverware was destined for Stamford Bridge once again.
Level on points with City, the Blues finished on top with a +53 goal difference compared to City’s +46.
“What a wonderful performance. The hardest thing to do is five in a row because people take their eye off the ball,” Hayes said.
“I can’t say it’s my most enjoyable title. It’s definitely been the toughest without doubt, for that reason probably the sweetest.”
It was a fitting finale for Hayes, who was saying farewell to the club she has brought so much success during 12 years in charge.
Hayes is leaving to take over as United States Women’s boss after winning seven Super League titles, five FA Cups and two League Cups.
“Great memories, listening to the fans, the connection with the players. I just haven’t got any more to give, I know that,” Hayes said.
The 47-year-old’s legacy is not just the silverware in Chelsea’s trophy cabinet, but also her key role in helping the huge growth in popularity of the women’s game in Britain.
“Everyone said girls can’t play, nor can they fill stadiums, nor can they get paid, nor can they create history,” Hayes said.
“Not only are we not going away but we are going to fill them every week. Women’s football now is a serious business and that for me is what it’s about.”
No mercy
City had hoped to spoil Hayes’ leaving party by winning the title for the first time since 2016.
But Chelsea had spent 153 days on top of the table, compared to 64 for City, and they rounded off their seventh title in eight seasons in blistering fashion.
Chelsea made a dream start against Women’s FA Cup winners United in the second minute as Guro Reiten’s cross picked out Mayra Ramirez and she rose highest to head home.
Six minutes later, Hayes was punching the air in delight as Johanna Kaneryd clipped a composed finish past United keeper Mary Earps.
Over at Villa Park, Mary Fowler gave City hope with a powerful strike in the 21st minute.
But Ramirez ensured Chelsea would not have to worry about being caught by City.
Surging away down the right flank, Ramirez’s pin-point cross was tapped in by Sjoeke Nusken in the 43rd minute.
And Ramirez waltzed through the hapless United defence and smashed a thunderous drive into the roof of the net in first-half stoppage time.
Hayes’ team showed no mercy and Melanie Leupolz scored their fifth in the 47th minute with a close-range effort.
Their title hopes gone, City conceded a 67th-minute equaliser to Rachel Daly before Lauren Hemp at least ensured the visitors finished on a winning note.
Fran Kirby, making her final Chelsea appearance after nine years, capped her own farewell with the sixth goal in the 85th minute as the title celebrations started in earnest.
AFP
Manchester City beat Arsenal in their major Premier League title race clash at the Etihad thanks to Erling Haaland’s winner.
Pep Guardiola’s side defeated their rivals 2-1 on Sunday afternoon to move to within three points of the league leaders.
Rayan Cherki opened the scoring in the first half, before Kai Havertz pounced on a Gianluigi Donnarumma’s error to equalise.
And then during a tense second half, Haaland managed to find the all-important winner to sink the Gunners in Manchester.
Man City now know they can move to the top of the Premier League table with a win over Burnley on Wednesday, live on talkSPORT.
Erling Haaland’s goal is the difference and Man City now have the chance to move to the top of the Premier League.
They’ll be celebrating tonight – but not too hard, ahead of their meeting with Burnley on Wednesday, live on talkSPORT.
As for Arsenal, it’s a nightmare evening for them.
The Gunners had the quadruple in their sights a few weeks ago, but now, after losing four of their last six, hopes are doomed.
There will be no Carabao Cup, no FA Cup, and now potentially no Premier League following their dismal run.C CB.
Real Sociedad edged Atletico Madrid 4-3 on penalties to win the Copa del Rey for a fourth time in the club’s history after a 2-2 draw in a gripping final on Saturday in Seville.
After Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez missed from the spot for Diego Simeone’s Atletico, Pablo Marin smashed home his kick to claim victory for the Basque side.
Ander Barrenetxea had headed Real Sociedad ahead after just 14 seconds, with Ademola Lookman levelling for Atletico.
Mikel Oyarzabal put the Basque side ahead from the penalty spot before the break but Alvarez rescued Atletico and forced extra time and ultimately penalties with a superb strike.
La Real’s season seemed set to be one of struggle until American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo was appointed in December, and he resuscitated their campaign.
At La Cartuja stadium it was a battle between two teams that often attack fast and direct, and Real Sociedad certainly did that, netting the quickest ever goal scored in a Copa del Rey final.
Goncalo Guedes scampered away down the left on to a long ball, crossing for Barrenetxea to head beyond Juan Musso before the Rojiblancos had even touched the ball.
Simeone’s side, who last won the competition back in 2013 near the start of his 14-year reign, wrestled their way back level through Lookman.
Antoine Griezmann laid off the ball to him on the edge of the box and without much on, the Nigeria international spied a route to goal and drilled into the bottom corner.
Lookman almost created a goal for Griezmann but Real Sociedad scrambled to block the 35-year-old French forward, who is leaving Atletico at the end of the season for MLS side Orlando City.
Atletico goalkeeper Musso, chosen ahead of the fit-again Jan Oblak after he impressed during the Slovenian’s recent injury absence, handed La Real the lead again just before the break.
Musso clumsily clattered Guedes fists first as the Portuguese leapt for a header and the Basque side were awarded a penalty.
Oyarzabal, who scored from the spot when they won the 2020 edition, without their fans present because of the global pandemic, sent Musso the wrong way.
After a first half in which they struggled, Atletico began to build some pressure after the interval.
Griezmann lashed over and Lookman whipped a shot high and wide as La Real tried to stave off the Rojiblancos, who dominated the ball.
Alvarez forces extra time
Simeone called for his battering ram, sending on Norwegian target man Sorloth to try and force a way through.
Eventually the goal they craved came from the guile of former Manchester City striker Alvarez instead.
The Argentina forward took a neat touch to spin on the edge of the box and then another to plant the ball in the top corner for his 19th goal of the season.
With La Real caving Johnny Cardoso should have won it for Atletico in stoppage time. The American fired a golden opening wide of the far post with just goalkeeper Unai Marrero to beat.
Musso made a fine save to thwart Icelandic striker Orri Oskarsson as he tried to turn home a rebound in extra time.
At the other end Alvarez crashed a shot off the crossbar from long range, with both teams creating enough opportunities to win it before penalties.
Marrero denied both Sorloth and Alvarez on Atletico’s first two penalties, with Musso stopping one from Oskarsson to give Atletico a chance.
However Marin made no mistake with Real Sociedad’s fifth penalty to spark wild celebrations.
Atletico’s last realistic chance of silverware this season, and something for Griezmann to celebrate on his departure, is in the Champions League where they face Arsenal in the semi-finals.
AFP
Manchester United beat Chelsea 1-0 away at Stamford Bridge to put a huge 10-point gap between Michael Carrick’s Red Devils in third and Liam Rosenior’s hapless Blues in sixth
United take three vital points at Stamford Bridge to further strengthen their ambitions of European football next season.
Matheus Cunha scored the only goal of the game shortly before half-time to maintain interim manager Michael Carrick’s impressive tenure since taking charge in January.
For the Blues, who saw a goal ruled out and twice hit the woodwork, they remain in sixth but failed to make a dent in the four-point gap between them and fifth-placed Liverpool.
The result means Liam Rosenior’s side are on a run of four successive top-flight defeats for the first time since the 1990s – doing so without scoring a single goal.
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