Chelsea Women Thrash Manchester United 5-0 for First WSL Win of the Season

Chelsea Women claimed their first Women's Super League win of the season in ruthless fashion, thrashing Manchester United Women 5-0 at Leigh Sports Village to hand new United boss Eva Olid a second straight defeat.

Sjoeke Nusken opened the scoring in the 21st minute before Keira Walsh doubled the lead 11 minutes later, giving Chelsea a commanding half-time cushion. The visitors continued to dominate after the break, with Lauren James, the player of the match and a former United academy product, getting on the scoresheet in the 61st minute, before Ellie Carpenter and Lucy Bronze completed the rout either side of the hour mark, the latter arriving with the final kick of the game.

United struggled to escape their own half for long periods as Chelsea's relentless pressing exposed a fragile home defence, continuing a difficult start under Olid, who was only overseeing her second league match in charge. Chelsea, responding emphatically after being held to a draw on the opening weekend, delivered exactly the kind of ruthless performance head coach Sonia Bompastor had demanded, moving the Blues back into serious title contention as United's wait for a first league win goes on ahead of a tough trip to Arsenal next.