Chelsea and Manchester City Are Stepping Up Their Game(WSL).
Manchester City and Chelsea are three-quarters through a four-game series
Thanks to some fortunate scheduling, Manchester City and Chelsea are three-quarters through a four-game series that began on March 15 with the League Cup final. This series will conclude this Thursday with the second leg of a Champions League quarterfinal tie. So far, it has showcased the best of what the Women’s Super League (WSL) has to offer.
High-quality players and high stakes are essential for turning a scheduling quirk into a season-defining series, and this one has both in abundance. For Chelsea, the WSL’s undisputed dominant force, these matches represented an opportunity not only to continue their pursuit of a multi-trophy season but also to reassert their dominance over Manchester City. Chelsea has won the WSL title seven times in the last eight seasons and narrowly claimed their fifth consecutive title last season, finishing just on goal difference ahead of City.
For City, these four matches presented a chance to salvage a season that has not gone as planned. Currently sitting fourth in the WSL table, City finds itself 15 points behind Chelsea at the top and seven points outside the Champions League spots. Despite this, the challenge of being Chelsea’s main obstacle in their quest for a treble still held significant value.
Chelsea won the first prize of the series, securing the League Cup final 2-1, aided by a late own goal from Yui Hasegawa. City performed well and carried that confidence into the Champions League matchup just four days later. The quality of both teams was evident during this game as City dominated possession. After a strong showing, it seemed inevitable that Vivianne Miedema would score, which she did in the 60th minute. However, Chelsea rallied in the last 20 minutes, creating chances but ultimately faltering in the 88th minute when Kerolin set up another opportunity for Miedema, who scored again. This marked Chelsea’s first loss of the season.
In the first half of Sunday’s league match, it appeared that City might achieve something no other team in England has managed—outplaying Chelsea consistently. The first 45 minutes were marked by Hasegawa’s technical excellence and Kerolin’s speed. City absorbed Chelsea’s attacks effectively before launching counterattacks that frequently put Kerolin in 1-on-1 duels with Millie Bright. One such moment resulted in a poke into the corner of the goal.
There are defining moments when certain teams must assert their dominance to claim the title of champions. Chelsea, having just lost one match and facing a 1-0 deficit on Sunday, was at risk of losing two games in a row and their reputation for invincibility. In this context, Chelsea delivered a powerful response in the second half, effectively neutralizing City. They addressed the Kerolin threat by shifting their attack to the right side, allowing left-back Niamh Charles to focus on containing the Brazilian. From this adjustment, Chelsea’s attackers—Lauren James, Aggie Beever-Jones, and others—found their rhythm. Beever-Jones scored to equalize in the 49th minute after a well-executed play down the right. The pressure on City’s defense mounted throughout the second half, ultimately resulting in a decisive goal from substitute midfielder Erin Cuthbert, who scored with a header in stoppage time.
Chelsea has faced a setback but is ready to respond, and Thursday presents another chance for them to demonstrate the kind of champion they aspire to be. Despite Chelsea’s dominance in the Women’s Super League (WSL), the Champions League title has remained out of reach. They need to overcome a 2-0 deficit to redefine their season, shifting from being just the titans of England to being competitive in Europe as well. On the other hand, Manchester City sees Thursday’s match as the crux of their entire season. They can put aside their disappointing league standings since their only chance to salvage the year is to win and eliminate Chelsea. Thursday’s match promises to be exciting.
