Chelsea Women’s Football Club continued their march towards a sixth consecutive Women’s Super League (WSL) title with an emphatic victory over Crystal Palace. After Saturday’s great match, it was a reminder of Chelsea’s stranglehold over the league. Specifically, they did well to keep a six-point cushion from their closest challengers, Arsenal. With head coach Sonia Bompastor at the helm, Chelsea has reigned over the WSL this season. With just four points required from their last three games, they are about to win the title!
The match opened at a frenetic pace, as Chelsea very quickly established their dominance. Guro Reiten scored the opener from the penalty spot, giving the Blues a 1-0 lead just five minutes in. And just two minutes later Macario struck again with a right-footed shot from inside the penalty area that left Palace’s backline racing around. By the halftime break, Chelsea were up 2-0 and looked a starkly dominant offensive force.
Key Moments in the Match
Chelsea’s third goal came just after the halftime break as Macario scored again, this time from a free-kick. Her 49th-minute effort took a devilish deflection to make matters even worse for Crystal Palace. Palace were dealt a difficult hand as Allyson Swaby saw a red card a mere two minutes into the second half. With her dismissal, the squad was forced to battle with just ten players.
Mia Fishel rounded out a strong display from Chelsea with her own goal to make it 4-0. She flicked home a header from Lucy Bronze, marking her first goal since returning from an ACL injury that had sidelined her since February of last year.
“I think this game was a crucial game in terms of points on the run to the title. We are now top of the league with six points ahead of Arsenal, so I think it was crucial to win,” – Sonia Bompastor
This result was emphatic, and it did all but seal Chelsea’s intentions of winning that title. For all of their commanding display, Bompastor recognized the way the Red Stars were able to get after them.
“I think this game could have finished with six or seven goals, and we only scored four, so not good enough in that aspect,” – Sonia Bompastor
The Road Ahead
After this win, Chelsea have put themselves in an extremely strong place in the title race. They need only four points from their final three games to win the title. Bompastor had emphasized her players’ need to remain mentally sharp. They are preparing for big matches of their own, including a key second-leg clash against Barcelona this Sunday on UEFA Ladies Champions League Qualification.
Chelsea’s relentless pursuit of excellence has become a hallmark under Bompastor’s leadership. The Londoners’ unbeaten streak in the WSL is a testament to their depth and skill across all positions that have propelled them to new heights. Standout performances from players like Macario and Fishel ensured a high level of play. Chelsea showed their character, adaptability and creativity on the pitch to find a way.
Crystal Palace head coach Leif Smerud after the game on his teams performance. He admitted that the very early penalty his side gave away was a real gut punch.
“The penalty was a big blow for Crystal Palace,” – Leif Smerud
Reflections on Team Performance
Chelsea’s mercilessness at taking their chances, both in regular play and especially from set pieces, have been instrumental all season long. The team’s mix of elite attacking creativity and finishing prowess, paired with a well-organized defensive shape has made the team nearly unbeatable. They’ll have to keep this momentum going as they enter the home stretch of the season.
Bompastor, too, is hopeful but level-headed when considering how her team will fare. She knows they’ve already done well to arrive at this point. She knows this is only a first step in the journey to earn the title.
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