Chelsea claim historic 5th Women's Super League title in Emma Hayes' final match

In her final match at the helm of Chelsea, Emma Hayes claimed an historic fifth Women's Super League title after a 6-0 win over Manchester United, beating Manchester City on goal difference.

With just two minutes gone, Mayra Ramirez put the Blues into the ascendency after converting a sublime cross from Guro Reiten. Seven minutes later, Rytting Kaneryd doubled that advantage after getting the better of Mary Earps. A third arrived just before half-time as substitute Sjoeke Nusken tapped into Earps' net before Ramirez grabbed a fourth on the stroke of half-time.

The second-half brought a similar onslaught. Melanie Leupolz grabbed a fifth not a minute after the restart, the 30-year-old making the most of Kaneryd's rebounded effort. Fran Kirby added the gloss to a thumping title-clinching victory in what would also mark her final match for the club.

If Manchester United offered little in terms of opposition, Chelsea's title rivals couldn't say the same of their final day opponents. Aston Villa made life difficult for City from the off, surprising the visitors with their verve and grit. City broke the deadlock with 21 minutes gone thanks to a cute finish from Mary Fowler. But despite boasting a raft of close chances, including Laura Blinkindle Brown smacking the crossbar, City couldn't find their goal stride.

The absence of star striker Khadija Shaw, sat on the touchlines with a broken foot, was made all the more conspicuous as City's earlier profligacy was punished by Rachel Daly. The Lioness capitalised on a defensive error and slotted home an equaliser with just over 20 minutes remaining. Despite Lauren Hemp restoring City's lead, the victory would be small consolation as the title remained with Chelsea for a fifth year running.

The WSL title race has gone to the wire in the last four seasons, but Sunday's showdown was defined by the barest of margins. City's 2-1 loss to Arsenal on the penultimate weekend left the door open for Chelsea, who overturned their goal-difference deficit with a 8-0 thumping of Bristol City before extending it with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, meaning the fate of the title was out of City's hands.

Heading into Sunday, Chelsea required victory over United while hoping City either dropped points against Aston Villa or did not enjoy a three-goal swing in their favour.

Chelsea went immediately on the front foot and refused to relent. By half-time, it was a lesson in execution: four shots on target, four goals. By the end, it was six on target, five scored.

Where Chelsea were a team possessed, City were a team unfortunate. Their missed chances tallied high and did not go without impunity. As Daly celebrated scoring the equaliser, substitute Steph Houghton and Alex Greenwood were apoplectic, lifting their arms towards each other and teammates in frustration. Hemp's goal was little comfort in the face of the wider picture.

Sunday's triumph for Chelsea means Hayes, who will depart the club after a glittery 12-year tenure to take over as the new USWNT manager, lifted her goal tally to 16 trophies and ensured that her final season as head coach would not be remembered as a trophy-less one.

Chelsea were originally in the running for an historic quadruple to coincide with Hayes' final season at the helm. But a miserable month of results saw the Blues dumped out of the FA Cup semi-finals and Champions League semi-finals, while Arsenal retained their Continental Cup title once more with an extra-time winner from Stina Blackstenius.

It was Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final opponents, and now reigning FA Cup champions, Manchester United who stood between Hayes and one last trophy with Chelsea. United's defeat left them fifth in the WSL table behind Liverpool, a sign of the work in progress the club remain despite securing a first major trophy since the women's team's reformation in 2018.

Meanwhile, Chelsea's domestic dominance extends to a record fifth year, a sign of the behemoth that Chelsea have become under Hayes' aegis.