Manchester City end WSL season with win over relegated Palace

Manchester City twice came from behind to end their Women’s Super League campaign with a 5-2 win over relegated Crystal Palace on Saturday.

What happened?

Palace, who had secured just two WSL victories all season, took the lead in the 4th minute after Ashleigh Weerden calmly tipped the ball over the incoming goalkeeper after Laia Aleixandri – who is to leave City on a free transfer this summer – lost possession between 18-yards. But Palace’s advantage only lasted 13 minutes when Kerolin capitalized on the visitors’ indecisive defending, firing past Shae Yanez.

The visitors regained their advantage just before half-time when Katie Stengel did well to set up Mille Gejl and she shot home from just inside the penalty area.

Heightened intensity heading into the second half

City regained some freshed energy heading into the second half as they look to find the equaliser. A Lauren Hemp effort on goal ruled out for offside, Jill Roord hit the post and missed another chance and Kerolin wasted two glorious chances before Roord made it 2-2, converting the rebound after Yanez had parried Kerolin’s effort.

City were looking a threat every time they pushed forward, dominating the opponents’ half and it was only a matter of time to make it 3-2 as defender Rebecca Knaak headed in from Hemp’s corner in the 67th minute. But Kerolin put the game beyond them with her second goal in the 86th minute, racing on to Aoba Fujino’s through ball and slotting the finish past Yanez.

The Palace keeper did superbly to tip over Fujino’s effort but then conceded a fifth, five minutes into stoppage time from the resulting corner as Knaak headed in her second goal of the afternoon.

An abysmal 2024/25 campaign for Manchester City

For City, despite impressing in the second half as they overwhelmed their opponents, there was no disguising they ultimately fell short on all of their targets in 2024-25.

Last season they had taken the WSL title race to the final day, but were pipped on goal difference by Chelsea. City’s late capitulation in their penultimate match of 2023-24, which saw them lose 2-1 at home to Arsenal having led going into the 89th minute, ultimately cost them becoming English champions.

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City started this season well with six wins and a draw from their opening seven WSL matches, but four losses in six games from November to February ended their hopes of a title push.

They have also failed to secure European football, lost in the final of Women’s League Cup and were beaten by Manchester United in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

What did Nick Cushing say?

Before this match, interim City boss Nick Cushing, who took charge after Gareth Taylor’s sacking in March, said there have been “no conversations” about the possibility of him continuing in the managerial role.

If it was to be Cushing’s last WSL game at City, he can take pride knowing his half-time changes – bringing Roord and Fujino on for Laura Coombs and Jess Park – transformed the game and saved City from an embarrassing home loss.

A winning end for Cushing at City

He is set to take charge of the club at the Women’s World Sevens tournament, a seven-a-side competition in Estoril, Portugal from 21-23 May, but does not expect to manage Manchester City in another 11-a-side match.

“I’m contracted until June first and once that comes I will be back where I was in December and January, putting the bins out,” said Cushing.

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What’s next for Palace?

It was a miserable end to 2024-25 for Palace, who won promotion from the Championship last season but have struggled hugely at the higher level.

They only kept one WSL clean sheet, in a 2-0 victory over Leicester in October, one of only two league victories they achieved.

Their defensive frailties were shown in the second half as City produced wave after wave of attacks, with only a superb display from Yanez keeping the score down to five.

In their final six matches of the season, Palace conceded 25 goals and will need to improve defensively if they are to succeed in the Championship in 2025-26.