Manchester City Women delivered a statement victory on Sunday, crushing Chelsea 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium to move 11 points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League. The result effectively ends Chelsea’s six-year hold on the title, with City now seemingly unstoppable in their pursuit of a first championship since 2016.
Brazilian forward Kerolin scored a hat-trick, with goals from Khadija Shaw and Vivianne Miedema completing the rout. City’s relentless pressure and clinical finishing exposed a Chelsea side that has now lost three of its last five league matches. City head coach Andrée Jeglertz praised his team’s composure: “A lot of people were expecting us to perform and they managed it. It’s amazing.”
Chelsea, who slipped to third, were outclassed from the start. Kerolin opened the scoring from a set piece, before Shaw doubled the lead after a powerful run. Chelsea failed to convert their own chances, and Kerolin added two more after the break, the first a chip over goalkeeper Hannah Hampton. Miedema headed in a fourth after Alyssa Thompson had pulled one back for the visitors.
Defeat was Chelsea’s second in succession, a first since 2015. Head coach Sonia Bompastor, once seemingly invincible, faced questions about her future. “I’m really confident,” she said. “If the club thinks I’m not the right person, I’ll be happy to go. But I will never give up.” She added that the squad lacks the depth of previous seasons.
Chelsea travel to Tottenham next week needing a win to avoid falling out of the Champions League places. City, meanwhile, are eight games from glory, with a 12-point gap over Chelsea and an 11-point lead over second-placed Manchester United.
