Chelsea hit five past Manchester United for first WSL win of season

Chelsea secured their first Women's Super League victory of the season with a 5-0 win away to Manchester United on Sunday, September 13. Sjoeke Nüsken, Keira Walsh, Lauren James, Ellie Carpenter and Lucy Bronze scored as Sonia Bompastor's team followed their opening 1-1 draw against Aston Villa with three points. The Guardian reported that Chelsea led by two goals at the interval before adding three more after the break.

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Bompastor changed her attacking setup, leaving Aggie Beever-Jones among the substitutes and using James and Nüsken in interchangeable forward roles. Chelsea were without injured centre-forwards Melvine Malard and Mayra Ramírez, according to the report. James was given freedom to move across the attack, while the visitors also shifted their defensive shape during the match.

Nüsken opened the scoring in the 21st minute after Wieke Kaptein capitalised on a mistake by Dominique Janssen. Bronze had played the ball forward, and Kaptein reached it ahead of the United defender before supplying Nüsken for a close-range finish. Walsh extended the advantage just over 10 minutes later, striking from outside the penalty area after Bronze redirected a headed clearance towards her.

United offered little attacking response. An early attempt by Julia Zigiotti Olme was comfortably dealt with by Hannah Hampton, and a short improvement after half-time did not produce a comeback. James made it 3-0 after the hour, collecting Walsh's pass, resisting Janssen's challenge and finishing low. It was her seventh attempt of the match, with goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce having already made two notable saves to deny her.

Kaptein helped create the fourth by taking possession from Janssen and finding Carpenter on the right. Tullis-Joyce stopped the Australian's initial shot, but Carpenter scored from the rebound. Bronze completed the scoring in the final minute of stoppage time after Walsh returned a corner into the crowded six-yard area.

The defeat left United with two losses from their opening two league matches, following a 2-1 reverse against London City Lionesses. Eva Olid's side next face Arsenal away at the Emirates the following weekend. Chelsea, meanwhile, turned an opening-day draw into a first win through contributions from five different goalscorers.