Khadija Shaw nets twice as Manchester City lift first WSL title in ten years

ESSEX, England (CMC)— Jamaican international Khadija “Bunny” Shaw closed out the Women’s Super League season with two goals as Manchester City routed West Ham United 4-1 here on Saturday, formally confirming a championship the club had not won since 2016.

Shaw found the net in the 57th and 72nd minutes, taking her tally to 21 goals from 22 appearances—the highest in the division by a wide margin. Arsenal’s Alessia Russo was the nearest rival on the scoring chart with 13 goals from the same number of matches.

City took the field having already secured the title during the campaign. Andree Jeglertz’s team received a guard of honour from West Ham’s players before kick-off and lifted the trophy after a straightforward victory.

Jade Rose gave the visitors the lead in the 13th minute with her first WSL strike, firing in from inside the six-yard area after the hosts failed to clear a corner from the left. Shaw then made it 2-0, converting well from Aoba Fujino’s low cross from the right. With that goal, she became the first player in WSL history to reach 20 goals in three separate seasons.

West Ham replied five minutes later when Seraina Piubel finished from Ffion Morgan’s low cross. Shaw added her second of the match in the 72nd minute, placing a shot into the bottom corner.

Former England international Laura Coombs, who will retire when the season ends after 19 years in the game, completed the scoring with 10 minutes remaining. Her effort took a deflection and looped in for 4-1.