GW14: Sweet Kerolin

Is this the weekend that sealed the fate of the 2025/26 season victors? Oh, and an English club is now officially a global champion.

MANCHESTER CITY V CHELSEA (5–1)

It’s the battle of the Blues; The highly anticipated clash of the two title contenders. Yet, at the conclusion of this exhilarating 112 minute game of football, can Chelsea still even consider themselves in the running for the silverware?

Arriving at the Etihad on the first day of a new month, Manchester City sat nine points ahead at the top of the league table, their eyes squarely on their first WSL title in a decade. Chelsea, on the other hand, made the journey North on the back of defeat to their time-hallowed rivals Arsenal.

Two years since City last took down their London opponents in this competition, and after numerous meetings between the two, the Sky Blues initiated the largest Chelsea loss in the WSL since 2018. While all members of the squad duly played their roles in this, it was Kerolin, back in the starting XI after some time following injury, with a hat-trick that truly sealed the deal. Placing herself in the perfect positions and spotting spaces in Chelsea’s security, Kerolin managed a masterclass in Manchester. Bunny Shaw and Vivianne Miedema also found themselves on the score sheet.

While a day, and frankly a year so far, that Sonia Bompastor and her team will hasten to forget, Chelsea were not completely out of the match. An early goal from Wieke Kaptein was ruled offside, but hinted at potential. Ultimately, it was only Alyssa Thompson, just shy of the 70th minute of play, who could get past the reliable hands of Ayaka Yamashita.

If, and it is an if as anything can happen in this league, City find themselves lifting the title trophy in the coming months, many will look back to this fixture, the day the Cityzens went eleven points ahead, as the day they secured victory.

FIFA CHAMPION'S CUP FINAL: ARSENAL V CORINTHIANS (3–2)

On one very wet Sunday evening in North London Arsenal declared themselves as Champions of the World. However, getting there, and lifting another trophy, was far from simple.

In the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champion’s Cup, the victors of Europe and South America came head to head at the Emirates to decide the Champion of the world. Several days prior to this first-ever final, Corinthians took down NWSL winners Gotham, meanwhile Moroccan side AS FAR faced defeat to Arsenal.

An early goal from Olivia Smith hinted at Arsenal dominance, and with the North London side statistically holding the majority of possession throughout this mammoth match, Corinthians had to fight hard to get onto the scoresheet…and they did less than ten minutes later.

In the second half, it was Lotte Wubben-Moy who gave back the advantage to Arsenal. But a foul from Katie McCabe near to the conclusion of the original 90 minutes resulted in Corinthians being awarded a penalty, a penalty which Vic Albuquerque placed sweetly in Anneke Borbe’s net.

This mega finale therefore headed into extra time, Arsenal with tired legs, Corinthians willing to give all they possibly could. Ultimately, a goal from Caitlin Foord in the 104th minute was what the Gunners needed to secure the first ever title in this new competition.

Unfortunately, with just mere minutes left on the clock, and the trophy within touching distance, Arsenal goalkeeper Borbe went down in a collision with her own teammate Wubben-Moy. With a suspected concussion, the German international was stretchered off the pitch, replaced between the sticks by Daphne van Domselaar who played for all of 30 seconds.

The whistle sounded out and history was made. An English club can call themselves the champions, not just of Europe but of the globe. And in doing so, take home £1.7 million.

OTHER GAMES ACROSS THE WEEKEND

West Ham V Tottenham

1–2

Everton V Aston Villa

2–1

Brighton V London City

1–2

Manchester United V Liverpool

3–1