Mary Fowler scored her fourth league goal of the season but it wasn’t enough for Manchester City to clinch the English Women’s Super League title despite a 2-1 final-day win at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Alanna Kennedy, who started and played 66 minutes, almost headed City into a 19th minute lead when her effort from a free-kick hit the crossbar, before her compatriot opened the scoring.
Fowler netted in the 21st minute, producing a brilliant first touch from Lauren Hemp’s ball into the box, before a classy left-foot volley beat the goalkeeper.
Fowler played a full game for City and almost set up a second goal for Laura Blindkilde-Brown in the 38th minute, only for her effort to hit the woodwork.
Villa equalized through Rachel Daly in the 68th minute and Fowler almost restored City’s lead with a cushioned volley which flew over in the 71st minute.
It was Fowler who created the winner, jinking and driving on down the right flank before delivering a dangerous ball across goal for Hemp to convert.
But City fell short by seven goals on goal difference to Sam Kerr’s Chelsea, who triumphed 6-0 at Manchester United elsewhere on Saturday.
City boss Gareth Taylor admitted winning 18 of 22 league games and not lifting the title was tough to accept.
Matildas trio Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley all started as third-placed Arsenal ended their campaign with a comprehensive 5-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Cooney-Cross and Catley started and played 61 and 62 minutes respectively, while Foord lasted until the 85th minute.
Clare Wheeler put in a full shift in Everton’s 4-0 win at Bristol City that locked in an eighth-place finish for the Toffees.
Charlotte Grant and Mackenzie Arnold both played full games on opposite sides as Tottenham won 3-1 over West Ham United. Spurs finish sixth while the Hammers end down in 11th.
Courtney Nevin and Remy Siemsen were both 85th minute subs for Leicester City in their 4-0 home loss to Liverpool.
Teagan Micah was absent for the Reds who finish the season in fourth.
Emily van Egmond played a full game while Kaitlyn Torpey was unused as San Diego Wave lost 2-1 at Bay FC in USA’s NWSL.
Finally, Ellie Carpenter’s Olympique Lyon celebrated title success on Friday with a 2-1 victory over Clare Hunt’s PSG in the French Feminine Division 1 final.
Carpenter played a full game in the decider for Lyon, who had finished the regular season 11 points clear on top with a 20-1-1 record. Hunt was unused by PSG on Friday.
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— OL Féminin (@OLfeminin) May 18, 2024
