Chelsea romped to a title-enhancing 8-0 victory over sorry Bristol City in Emma Hayes’ final home game in charge.
Hayes had already conceded the WSL title after her side’s stuttering 4-3 defeat to Liverpool in midweek, but that was before Man City were beaten by Arsenal on Sunday, presenting a glimmer of renewed hope.
Closing their goal difference deficit was the Blues’ primary concern, and they went about their work in typically relentless fashion, finding the net inside six minutes when Guro Reiten struck from the penalty spot.
Sjoeke Nusken scrambled home a scrappy second, while Aggie Beever-Jones added a third shortly after the break, beating Fran Bentley with a sweeping strike from Erin Cuthbert’s enterprising through ball.
Guro Reiten scored four and created a fifth in an impressive display
Chelsea were relentless and Bristol City were powerless to prevent the onslaught. Reiten arrowed her second of the night in the 56th minute, before substitute Catarina Macario played a sumptuous reverse pass into the Norwegian forward to complete a sensational hat-trick.
Chelsea have overturned their goal difference deficit on Man City
Niamh Charles made it six. Reiten made it seven. Then it became eight via a Beever-Jones header. The rout was complete, and now Chelsea’s chances of a fifth successive WSL title are reinvigorated. “Game on,” Hayes mouthed to her support staff on the touchline.
Game on indeed.
Guro’s goals
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Guro Reiten puts Chelsea ahead from the spot in their WSL match against Bristol City
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Guro Reiten finds the back of the net to put Chelsea 4-0 up against Bristol City
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Guro Reiten scores a hat-trick against Bristol City to put Chelsea back in the WSL title race
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Guro Reiten slots her fourth goal past the ‘keeper as Chelsea seal their seventh against Bristol City
How magnificent Chelsea blew title race wide open
“There’s no team in the league that could have produced what Chelsea have produced tonight,” said pundit Izzy Christiansen on Sky’s live coverage. She’s not wrong.
This was a performance born out of champions’ mentality. They sensed an opportunity, after Man City were shocked by a late Arsenal comeback earlier in the day, and they grabbed it with two hands.
Guro Reiten won player of the match
Reiten was a sensation, scoring four and creating another as the Blues registered their biggest margin of victory all season. Bristol City simply could not cope with the slickness and efficiency of it all.
“Don’t stop believing” rang around the PA system at Kingsmeadow at the full-time whistle. It was apt. And now there’s no denying the jeopardy of the title race is back.
The intensity could be felt from the moment Reiten struck from the penalty spot after Charles was tripped inside the box. No player celebrated the breakthrough, Reiten simply collected the ball and placed it purposefully back on the penalty spot. That happened a further seven times.
Frank Kirby, who recently announced her plans to leave Chelsea at the end of the season, was introduced late on and had a hand in Reiten’s fourth – Chelsea’s seventh – linking impressively with Macario to get the forward in behind.
Beever-Jones’ back-post header from Reiten’s cross late on capped a wonderful evening. Hayes was emotional at the staggering level her side produced under the spotlight. “What are the odds of that?” the boss said afterwards. “This is what Chelsea are all about.”
State of play…
Chelsea’s emphatic win means they now trail Man City by three points with a game in hand at Tottenham to come on May 15. But, perhaps crucially, the Blues’ goal difference is now one ahead of their title rivals on plus 46 going into the last fortnight of a fascinating campaign.
Hayes: A champions-worthy performance
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Following her side’s 8-0 victory over Bristol City, Emma Hayes said that Chelsea didn’t want to go out of the WSL ‘with a whimper’
Emma Hayes speaking to Sky Sports: “We’ve had some disappointments, no question. They wanted to make sure they put in the performance that was worthy of what champions look like. We didn’t want to go out with a whimper. We wanted to make sure it was a game to remember for the fans.
“What’s the chances of that? If you’d told me Arsenal would beat City in the last four or five minutes and we’d win 8-0… what are the odds of that?
“I said to the players that our job was to be ready. Today was another opportunity for us to get closer to something that was slipping out of our grasp. I am so proud because everything Chelsea represents are days like today.”
Chelsea fixtures
May 15: Tottenham vs Chelsea, kick-off 7.15pm
May 18: Man Utd vs Chelsea, kick-off 3pm
Man City’s remaining fixture
May 18: Aston Villa vs Man City, kick-off 3pm
Ad content | Stream Sky Sports on NOW
Stream Sky Sports live with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW. Instant access to live action from the Premier League, EFL, F1, England Cricket and so much more.
Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp!
You can now start receiving messages and alerts for the latest breaking sports news, analysis, in-depth features and videos from our dedicated WhatsApp channel!
Find out more here.
