Man City ‘got job done’ – so is WSL title race over?

If winning without performing at their best is indicative of a champion’s mindset, Manchester City’s title competitors may be in trouble.

 

“Job done,” stated City’s match-winner Khadija Shaw following their 2-1 victory over London City Lionesses on Sunday, which expanded their lead at the top of the Women’s Super League to nine points.

 

Chelsea’s defeat to Arsenal on Saturday seemed to give City an advantage, with Sonia Bompastor commenting that the title race was “probably over.” Those remarks, possibly a psychological tactic from the Chelsea manager, seemed hasty as City struggled for most of the match against London City, but Shaw’s late goal ensured a potentially crucial victory.

 

“It’s about getting the job done, regardless of how it looks,” she told Sky Sports. “Today was tough, but we’ve demonstrated our resilience throughout the season, and today was a prime example. We approached the game knowing what we needed to do and we executed it.”

 

City’s next match is against Chelsea at home on Sunday (14:30 GMT); even if they lose, they would still maintain a six-point advantage along with a significantly better goal difference.

 

City currently leads Chelsea by nine points with 27 points still available. Having secured 12 consecutive wins since a season-opening loss to Bompastor’s team, it’s hard to imagine they’ll drop three of their final nine matches. Opponents have struggled to both halt City’s scoring and earn points against them.

 

City has scored in their last 27 WSL matches, marking their longest streak in the competition, and they have averaged 2.7 goals per game this season, totaling 36 goals. Shaw has been pivotal in this success, with 13 league goals this season making her a strong candidate for a third consecutive Golden Boot.

 

While some criticize City for relying too heavily on Shaw, her teammates have equally contributed. Vivianne Miedema, the WSL’s all-time leading scorer, is excelling in a deeper role supporting Shaw. Miedema provided the assist for Kerolin’s goal during Sunday’s match; the Brazilian winger has added three goals and three assists in her last five league appearances.

 

As early-season injuries begin to subside, City’s strength in depth is becoming apparent. Forwards Aoba Fujino and Mary Fowler are close to a return from injury, while the bench on Sunday included Sydney Lohmann, Iman Beney, Grace Clinton, and Sam Coffey, who made her debut and took the corner leading to Shaw’s winning goal.

 

Despite not playing well in south-east London, City, like all successful champions, managed to secure the win. “There’s a determination in their eyes that we will find ways [to win],” Jeglertz noted. “Even when we’re not playing beautifully, we still find ways to win and keep going. I am very proud of this winning mentality.”

 

However, there remains hope for Chelsea. This was only Eder Maestre’s second match as London City’s manager, but his team identified weaknesses in City and deserved at least a draw. While City’s midfield duo of Yui Hasegawa and Laura Blindkilde Brown has excelled all season, London City exploited their lack of physicality and vulnerability in transition.

 

City’s high defensive line faced significant challenges, with Isobel Goodwin breaking through multiple times, but a mix of poor finishing and goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita kept her from scoring. This match displayed a method for challenging Jeglertz’s team, but aside from Freya Godfrey’s outstanding goal, the hosts couldn’t capitalize on opportunities that could have demoralized City.

 

City is just three wins away from breaking their club record of 14 consecutive WSL wins set in the 2023-24 season, but they remember the season when they relinquished a six-point lead with only two matches to spare, losing the title to Chelsea on goal difference.

 

If they lose to Chelsea next weekend, as they did in the League Cup semi-finals, the pressure may start to build. “There are many matches left, but none are easy wins,” Jeglertz remarked. “We face Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham. Each will pose different challenges. We have disappointment from our recent loss to Chelsea, so we’re focused on finding another winning strategy.”

 

“We’ve had a great season thus far, but we must continue to stay humble and keep pushing forward.”