Chelsea beat Charlton 6-0 to reclaim WSL lead as James goes off injured

Chelsea beat Charlton Athletic 6-0 at The Valley on Sunday, November 1, moving back above Manchester City at the top of the Women's Super League on goal difference. Melvine Malard scored twice in a victory featuring five different scorers, although Lauren James had to leave the match with an injury before half-time.

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According to Chelsea's official match report, the visitors established a four-goal lead inside 19 minutes. Nathalie Bjorn headed in Katie McCabe's delivery following a short corner in the third minute, before Malard added the second in the 10th. Ellie Carpenter then converted a rebound from James's shot, and Malard reacted to a loose ball in the penalty area for her second goal.

Bjorn captained Chelsea on her first WSL start since November 2025. Sonia Bompastor had made seven changes from the midweek Champions League win over Roma, with Manaka Matsukubo also making her first Chelsea start. The changes did not prevent the visitors from taking control early, with Charlton facing a substantial deficit well before the interval.

James was replaced by Erin Cuthbert in the 35th minute after pulling up while running off the ball, Chelsea reported. The Guardian reported that Bompastor suspected a hamstring problem but said James needed further assessment on Monday. Her departure interrupted an afternoon in which she had helped create chances during Chelsea's opening spell.

Chelsea continued scoring after the break. Half-time substitute Aggie Beever-Jones added the fifth, and Giulia Dragoni registered her first goal for the club. Sky Sports reported that Chelsea finished with 34 shots and more than 70 per cent possession, while Charlton managed one effort on target. The two substitutes' goals extended a lead that was already decisive at half-time.

Sky Sports reported that Chelsea and Manchester City remained unbeaten on 22 points. City had won 2-1 at London City Lionesses earlier in the day, with Lauren Hemp scoring after the hosts equalised, but Chelsea's subsequent result returned them to first place. Goal difference therefore separated the leading pair at the end of Sunday's matches, with neither surrendering points.