Chelsea reclaimed top spot in the Women’s Super League with a commanding 6-0 win over bottom club Charlton at The Valley.
Four goals inside the opening 19 minutes put Sonia Bompastor’s side firmly in control, leaving the hosts facing another difficult afternoon.
Nathalie Bjorn opened the scoring after three minutes, meeting Katie McCabe’s delivery with a looping header into the far corner.
Melvine Malard doubled the advantage from close range, with goalkeeper Anna Koivunen fumbling the ball over the line.
Ellie Carpenter then struck for the second successive match, reacting quickest after Koivunen pushed away Lauren James’ effort from the edge of the area.
Although Koivunen denied Sandy Baltimore and Carpenter, Chelsea soon added a fourth through Malard’s close-range finish.
The forward thought she had completed a rapid hat-trick shortly afterwards, but a narrow offside decision ruled out her effort.
Chelsea’s afternoon was overshadowed by James being forced off after 35 minutes, having gone down while chasing the ball.
Substitute Aggie Beever-Jones extended the lead after the interval, collecting Keira Walsh’s clever flick to score her first goal since September 2025.
Giulia Dragoni completed the scoring with her first Chelsea goal, producing a sharp turn and finish.
The victory moved Chelsea above Manchester City on goal difference, while Charlton remain without a point after eight matches.
Chelsea keep pressure on City
After finishing third, six points behind champions City last season, Chelsea have made a strong start to their pursuit of the title.
They have now won seven consecutive league matches since drawing with Aston Villa on the opening day, scoring 11 more goals than City this term.
Their determination to keep attacking was evident throughout.
Baltimore and Maika Hamano both struck the woodwork, while Alyssa Thompson fired wide when through on goal.
Goal difference decided Chelsea’s title success in 2023-24, when they scored seven more goals than City, and their latest emphatic victory could prove valuable.
Charlton’s struggles continue
Charlton’s difficult return to the top flight continued as they conceded at least four goals in a league match for the fourth time this season.
Koivunen prevented further damage with saves from Thompson and Manaka Matsukubo, but Chelsea’s early burst had already settled the contest.
The hosts have now conceded 25 goals and failed to score in five of their eight league games.
They next face fellow promoted side Crystal Palace on Sunday, still searching for their first points of the campaign.
