When Sonia Bompastor picked up the Chelsea baton from Emma Hayes last summer, it was hard to imagine any further accolades this team could be awarded this season.
A WSL title? Probably. A League Cup trophy? Likely. But invincible? Even two-time Champions League winner Bompastor never dreamed that she would finish her first season in charge completely unbeaten, breaking the record points total in the process.
Never before has a women’s league team completed a 22-game season without losing a game, but Bompastor has managed to instill a sense of belief in this group of champions that no other team has been able to surpass.
It hasn’t always been the prettiest, but Chelsea have managed to get the job done this season where it mattered most – winning the biggest games.
Against the other top four teams this season, Chelsea have played six and won six. Neither Arsenal, Manchester United, nor Manchester City managed to beat each other more than twice.
Chelsea had already won the title with two games to spare at Leigh Sports Village ten days ago amidst muted celebrations – partly because of the unexpected nature of the victory, and partly because the disappointment of the 8–2 Champions League drubbing by Barcelona was still in the air.
Aggie Beever-Jones stoppage time goals secured a record points total in the top-flight
Liverpool gave the champions a guard of honour at Stamford Bridge before kick-off
Sonia Bompastor’s side set a record points tally in the WSL after beating Liverpool on Saturday
Today, though, with the sun beating down on Stamford Bridge, the Blues were finally able to celebrate accordingly in front of their own fans.
The game itself was incredibly flat given the circumstances. Liverpool, playing for pride and a position in the top half of the table, did a good job of keeping the stadium quiet in the first half, defending well and limiting Chelsea’s chances.
Sonia Bompastor rang the changes at half-time, and they came close through Aggie Beever-Jones and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd after the break.
But with the clock ticking into extra time, substitute Ashley Lawrence managed to find the pass to break the deadlock.
Lawrence threaded the ball through to Cobham graduate Aggie Beever-Jones, who charged towards the Liverpool box and beat Rachael Laws at her near post.
The 21-year-old is beginning to make a habit of stoppage-time winners against this team, having crushed Liverpool’s dreams of a first FA Cup final with her 94th-minute goal here last month.
As for the accolades that can still come Chelsea’s way, there’s an FA Cup final and a domestic treble still up for grabs. Possible? Highly.
