West Ham United fell to an 8-0 away defeat at the hands of Chelsea in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.
Early finishes from Maren Mjelde and Bethany England put the Blues two goals in front before 12 minutes had been played, with Sophie Ingle adding a third for the home side prior to half-time.
The Chelsea striker completed her hat-trick and Mjelde got a second in the second period, while Erin Cuthbert and Ramona Bachmann also scored for the Blues, before Emily Murphy netted in added-time.
A tough afternoon could have, in truth, been much worse if not for a number of top saves by Courtney Brosnan, who denied the likes of England, Bachmann, and Jonna Andersson from making the score worse.
A victory, and results elsewhere, could put Chelsea top of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League, and it took the home side only seven minutes to open the scoring.
A corner was whipped into the West Ham penalty area; the clearance fell kindly for Mjelde, who swept home a first-time finish past Courtney Brosnan’s out-stretched palm.
The lead was doubled not long after. A well-taken through ball by Erin Cuthbert found England. The Chelsea No9 skipped around the Irons goalkeeper before rolling into the net.
The Blues could have been further ahead if not for Kate Longhurst putting her body on the line with an essential clearance, while captain Gilly Flaherty twice made crucial interceptions to deny Cuthbert in quick succession.
West Ham’s opportunity to get back into the match came with ten minutes left of the first period. Katharina Baunach’s corner was attacked by both Grace Fisk and Laura Vetterlein. The latter appeared to be collided with, denying the German a chance at goal, but no foul was given.
Chelsea added a third just prior to half-time, as Ingle headed home her second from a corner-kick. The Irons could have pulled one back in extra-time, as Kenza Dali drove into deep territory and played a ferocious shot. However, Carly Telford was able to keep the effort out.
Drew Spence thought she had scored Chelsea’s fourth just three minutes into the second half, but the linesman ruled out for offside. Brosnan was then called on to deny Jonna Andersson from close range.
The Hammers could not contain Sunday’s opponents however, as Cuthbert dinked the ball around Grace Fisk before netting on the half volley.
England got her hat-trick not long after before Mjelde added her second, and Chelsea’s sixth, just after the hour mark.
Shot-stopper Brosnan did very well to deny the Blues further finishes, getting a strong hand on a Cuthbert strike before denying substitute Bachmann, while Alisha Lehmann went close to sweeping in from close range for the Hammers on 84 minutes.
There was time for Bachmann and fellow substitute Murphy to add two more goals for the Blues in an immensely difficult afternoon for West Ham.
Chelsea: Telford; Bundell, Bright, Ingle (Carter 67), England (Murphy 78), Reiten (Bachmann 67), Eriksson, Mjelde, Cuthbert, Spence, Andersson
Subs not used: Berger, Cooper, Napier, Wardlaw
Goals: Mjelde 7, 61, England 12, 56, Ingle 44, Cuthbert 52, Bachmann 87, Murphy 90+1
West Ham United: Brosnan; Fisk, Flaherty (c), Vetterlein; Redisch Kvamme, Dali, Longhurst (Middag 60), Simic (Galabadaarachchi 60), Baunach; Lehmann, Kiernan (De Graaf 59)
Subs not used: Moorhouse, Wallen, Smith, Littlejohn
Attendance: 3,304