Chelsea hit five at Manchester United as James and Walsh lead WSL win

Chelsea scored five goals away to Manchester United on Sunday, following their opening Women's Super League draw with Aston Villa with a comprehensive victory. According to The Guardian's match report, Sjoeke Nüsken, Keira Walsh, Lauren James, Ellie Carpenter and Lucy Bronze all scored as Sonia Bompastor's team punished a series of defensive mistakes by the hosts.

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Bompastor changed her attacking arrangement after the 1-1 draw with Villa, leaving Aggie Beever-Jones on the bench and using James and Nüsken in interchangeable forward roles. James was given freedom to move across the attack, while Chelsea also varied their defensive shape. The visitors created chances throughout, with United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce twice producing stretching saves to deny James before she eventually scored.

Nüsken opened the scoring in the 21st minute after Bronze played a high ball forward. Dominique Janssen misjudged its flight, allowing Wieke Kaptein to take possession and supply Nüsken for a close-range finish. Walsh added Chelsea's second a little more than 10 minutes later. After Andrea Medina headed away a cross, Bronze redirected the ball towards Walsh, who struck from outside the penalty area.

United offered little in response. An early attempt by Julia Zigiotti Olme was comfortably dealt with by Hannah Hampton, and a short improvement after the interval did not produce a sustained recovery. James extended Chelsea's advantage after the hour, running on to Walsh's pass, holding off Janssen and finishing low. The Guardian reported that the goal came from her seventh attempt of the match.

Kaptein was involved again for Chelsea's fourth, taking the ball from Janssen and finding Carpenter on the right. Tullis-Joyce stopped the Australian's initial effort, but Carpenter scored from the rebound. Bronze completed the scoring in the final minute of added time after Walsh returned a corner into the crowded six-yard area.

For United, the defeat followed a 2-1 opening loss to London City Lionesses, leaving Eva Olid's side without a league win from their first two matches. Their next WSL assignment is away to Arsenal at the Emirates the following weekend. Chelsea, meanwhile, converted their attacking opportunities into a much clearer result after being held by Villa.