Liverpool Women produced a thrilling 4-3 win against Chelsea, coming from behind in a second half that featured six goals and an incredible ending.
Liverpool Women 4-3 Chelsea Women
WSL (20), Prenton Park
May 1, 2024
Goals: Roman Haug 51′, Bonner 66′, 90+2′, Kiernan 81′; Beever-Jones 9′, 80′, Micah (og) 83′.
Liverpool enjoyed arguably their best performance of the season to beat Chelsea in a game that saw the Blues’ title hopes go up in smoke.
With the Sky Sports cameras in town, Liverpool more than held their own in the first half but were made to pay for some extremely lax marking off a Chelsea corner.
With nine minutes gone, Chelsea‘s Catarina Macario delivered a fairly flat corner into the six-yard box, where Aggie Beever-Jones headed in under little pressure with ample room to manoeuvre.
From then on, Liverpool had control of the half and almost went level before half time. It was the final pass and finish that was lacking for the Reds.
The second half that ensued, though, was the most exciting of the season.
What a start to the second-half for Liverpool who level it through Sophie Román Haug! ? pic.twitter.com/Vqz6ritxsc
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) May 1, 2024
Half time: Liverpool Women 0-1 Chelsea Women
In the 51st minute, Liverpool got their reward for a strong start to the half thanks to Sophie Roman Haug, who nodded in a header from almost the same position as Beever-Jones had scored earlier in the match.
Fifteen minutes later, the Reds scored again in very similar circumstances, as Marie Hobinger’s in-swinging corner was glanced in by captain Gemma Bonner on her 150th appearance for Liverpool, a feat no woman had ever previously managed.
Another corner another goal! ?
A MASSIVE goal in the WSL title race! ? pic.twitter.com/WEZGQB2Ay9
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) May 1, 2024
Both managers then made changes and both managers then celebrated goals.
With 10 minutes to play, the match went mad with three goals in three minutes.
The visitors got their first leveller when Reds’ goalkeeper Teagan Micah rushed to close down an angle but didn’t reach the ball, leaving Beever-Jones to finish inside the area.
Chelsea’s revival didn’t last long, though, as Leanne Kiernan broke through one-on-one to calmly slot past the onrushing goalkeeper.
"Absolutely unbelievable!" ?
The title race takes another dramatic twist as Liverpool take the lead AGAIN from a corner! ? pic.twitter.com/oTrS2KtedL
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) May 1, 2024
To Liverpool’s frustration, Emma Hayes’ Blues scored their third as the ball ricocheted around the box, resulting in an own goal by Micah.
The drama wasn’t done there, though, and Bonner capped off an amazing night with a stunning header from yet another Hobinger corner in stoppage time.
Chelsea had gone into the game needing a win to remain in the title hunt but now sit six points behind Man City with a game in hand and only three games remaining for them. The title is no longer in their hands.
Meanwhile, Liverpool celebrated as they moved level on 35 points with Man United, the team who come to Prenton Park on Sunday for the final home game of the season.
Player of the Match: Gemma Bonner
Liverpool Women: Micah; Koivisto (Daniels 45+4′), Fisk, Bonner, Clark, Hinds (Matthews 71′); Nagano, Holland (Kearns 82′), Hobinger; Enderby (Kiernan 71′), Roman Haug
Subs not used: Spencer, Lawley, Chadwick, Leath
Next match: Man United (H) – WSL – May 5, 2pm (BST)
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