English Football
Chelsea Ladies complete double with league title win
Chelsea Ladies beat Bristol City 2-0 to complete the league and cup double
Chelsea Ladies secured the Women’s Super League title after a hard-fought 2-0 victory against Bristol City.
The Blues, led by assistant Paul Green with manager Emma Hayes advised not to travel at this stage of her pregnancy, were rarely troubled by the Vixens.
Drew Spence headed Chelsea in front, before City’s Mille Farrow fired right at Hedvig Lindahl from six yards out.
Jonna Anderson fired in a late second to secure the result as FA Cup winners Chelsea wrapped up a domestic double.
Ji So-yun cracked a long-distance effort against the bar in added time, with Bristol City unable to respond.
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The visitors, who beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final earlier this month, are now only one game away from finishing the season unbeaten in the league.
That trophy lift!! 🏆👌 #CLFC pic.twitter.com/gO0rEAdSxD
— Chelsea Ladies FC (@ChelseaLFC) May 15, 2018
CHAMPIONS!!! 🏆 #CLFC pic.twitter.com/6IinImq11j
— Chelsea Ladies FC (@ChelseaLFC) May 15, 2018
Unbeaten Chelsea secure famous five
Chelsea’s title success gave them their fifth major crown in the club’s history and their second in 11 days.
Hayes’ side had never won a trophy prior to her arrival in 2012, but this is the second double of her tenure – matching their efforts from 2015.
The Blues also won 2017’s transitional WSL 1 Spring Series, but were not awarded the WSL trophy because of the event’s one-off eight-game format.
They had looked set for a close battle with 2016 WSL champions Manchester City, but three defeats in their past five games left Nick Cushing’s side out of contention.
The Champions League semi-finalists will have to replace a number of key figures when they attempt to retain their title in 2019, with former England midfielder Katie Chapman, 35, and defender Claire Rafferty, 29, retiring at the end of the season.
But their immediate thoughts will turn to their final game of the season against Liverpool as they aim to finish a remarkable season unbeaten in the league.
