Matildas' great Emily van Egmond has seen her dream of returning to England's Women's Super League shattered despite scoring for Birmingham City in a dramatic winner-takes-all, season-finale against London City Lionesses.

The globetrotting 158-time capped Australian international, who's been making a big impact in her 20th separate spell at a professional club in five different countries, was surprised to find herself after just three months at Birmingham plunged into a high profile second-tier Championship title decider on Sunday.

The Blues had to win to go up to the WSL, where van Egmond has previously played with West Ham, but any other result at Birmingham's St Andrew's Stadium would result in the title - and the lucrative prize of a Super League spot - going to the ambitious, ground-breaking Lionesses.

But the visitors from the capital held on for a 2-2 draw despite a thrilling fightback from 2-0 down, inspired by van Egmond's headed goal from close range in the 63rd minute.

Cheered on by a crowd of 8749, Cho So-Hyun equalised with a brilliant volley in the 86th minute, but Birmingham couldn't find a winner.

It meant the Lionesses finished on 43 points, two ahead of Birmingham, and they'll next season become the first wholly independent women's club, not associated with any men's club, to play in the WSL.

It's a triumph for billionaire Lionesses' owner Michele Kang, who took over last year, but a huge disappointment for WSL founder club Birmingham, who had been desperate to return to the top-flight after their 20-year spell there was ended in 2022.

In the WSL, Manchester United sealed a top-three finish, getting the point they needed to qualify for the Women's Champions League in a 2-2 draw with local rivals Manchester City, who were without their injured Matilda Mary Fowler.

There was still no sign of Sam Kerr returning after her own long-standing ACL injury as champions Chelsea beat Spurs 1-0 with a Catarina Macario penalty that leaves them just one match away - against Liverpool - from completing the entire WSL season undefeated.

Clare Wheeler celebrated her new two-year contract with Everton by enjoying a 2-0 victory over Merseyside rivals Liverpool at Anfield.