By Joe Rosedon 6/5/24
Photo via Chelsea FC
Chelsea 8 Bristol City 0
Ruthless Chelsea rout Bristol City to close in on fifthconsecutive Women’s Super League title at Emma Hayes’ Kingsmeadow send off.
Four goals from standout performer Guro Reiten plus double from Aggie Beever-Jones and goals from Sjoeke Nusken and Niamh Charles put the destiny of the Women’s Super Leaguetitle back in Chelsea’s hands.
it was imperative that Chelsea to close the goal difference gap between them and Man City, so a fast start would be required. Chelsea delivered, Reiten slotting home a penalty in the fourth minuet of the game.
Bristol City almost answered back right away, only for an impressive Zecira Musovic double save to deny an almost certain equaliser.
Yet this was the only bright spot for Bristol City. A goalmouth scramble from a corner started with Beever-Jones’ header saved by Fran Bentley and concluded with Nusken poking from close range from the rebound to double the lead for the home side.
Beever-Jones was not to be denied again, adding Chelsea’s third seven minutes into the second half.
Neat interplay between Reiten and Erin Cuthbert created space for the Scottish international to put Beever-Jones in behind. The Chelsea forward did the rest, slotting the ball between the legs of Bentley.
The fourth goal soon followed, and it was Reiten again. The Norwegian found space on the left-hand side and fired home from outside of the box into the bottom corner.
Four then became five, Reiten completing her hattrick. Second half substitute Cat Macario found Reiten with a textbook reverse pass who finished comfortably.
Charles added the sixth and Macario was involved again. Herfree kick finding Charles at the back post. The left back nipped in behind Jasmine Ball to finish instinctively.
Reiten’s made it seven to the Blues, who had aches of time and space on the edge of the box to turn and hammer home her fourth goal of the game past Bentley. Chelsea wererampant.
But the goal scoring had not finished yet. Reiten’s lofted cross was perfect for Beever-Jones to head home her second and Chelsea’s eighth goal of the game.
With Arsenal beating Chelsea’s title rivals Man City and surmounting the goal difference between them, The Women’s Super League is now Chelsea’s to lose.
The result for Bristol City must be considered a low point in what has been a difficult season. Regardless they have been able to develop a core fanbase and will hope that their support will help propel them back into the Women’s Super League.
After the game, Emma Hayes said “Let me be clear. It’s not over. There’s no time for sentimentality. All the work drinks are cancelled. There’s a title to be won”.
Starting XIs
Chelsea: Musovic (GK) Perisset (Kaneryd 62) Bright© Bjorn(Mjelde 81) Charles, Nusken(Kirby 45) Ingle (Macario62) Cuthbert, Reiten, Hamano, Beever-Jones(Lawrence 90)
Subs Not Used: Hampton, Carter, Leuopolz, Buchanan
Bristol City: Bentley (GK) Powell, Bull(Ward 78) Connolly© Struck, Morgan (Harrison 78) Syme (Hayles 71) Rodgers, Jones (Startigakis 90) Napier, Thestrup
Subs Not Used: Clark, Kendall, Yanez, Evans, Slocombe, Kendell
Goals: Reiten, 6 (Pen), 56, 70, 77
Nusken 23
Beever-Jones 52, 88
Charles 74
Referee: Stacey Fullicks
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