Liverpool LFC won its second straight Women’s Super League title, with two Americans on the squad helping a title defense that unfolded in unlikely fashion.
Entering the season’s final day with the third-best hopes of winning the championship, Liverpool had everything break their way.
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First, they beat Bristol Academy 3-0. Then, they waited as the unlikelihood happened.
From the Liverpool web site:Matt Beard’s side kicked off in Widnes as the outsiders in a three-team battle for the championship with Chelsea Ladies and Birmingham City, requiring a win of their own and both rivals to falter against Manchester City and Notts County respectively.
Incredibly, it unfolded just that way. Natasha Dowie, Lucy Bronze and Fara Williams struck the goals to achieve the Ladies’ objective before results filtered in from elsewhere - amid jubilant scenes at the Select Security Stadium - to confirm that Chelsea had lost, Birmingham had drawn and the trophy was staying on Merseyside.
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No more goals were required as attention switched to other scorelines and, following a tense few moments once their own game had ended, it was confirmed: the Ladies were top of the table on goal difference and they could celebrate for a second season running.
Bronze is a former UNC player, but that’s hardly the only American connection on a team that boasted USWNT defender Whitney Engen for the first title.
American midfielder Amanda DaCosta played in the WPSL before coming to Merseyside, while starting goalkeeper Libby Stout joined the club after a record-setting career at Western Kentucky. And Gemma Davison played with the Western New York Flash and Sky Blue FC.
