Women Super League: Chelsea thrash Leicester city 6-0

Champions Chelsea moved to within a point of WSL leaders Manchester United by thrashing Leicester 6-0 at Kingsmeadow ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup final against their title rivals.

Pernille Harder scored twice and assisted Guro Reiten’s opener in the first half in her first start since her injury return to take her to four WSL goals in the last two games. Erin Cuthbert also struck before the break as Chelsea went in 4-0 up.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are breathing down Man Utd’s necks as they bid to retain their WSL crown and are now just one point behind their title rivals and level on goal difference. Emma Hayes’ side also have a game in hand which leaves them in control of their own destiny.

Chelsea got stuck into Leicester immediately at Kingsmeadow as they looked to wrap the game up quickly ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup final. Reiten guided Harder’s cross into the back of the net for her seventh goal of the season after eight minutes to leave Leicester fearing it would be a repeat of the 8-0 defeat they suffered earlier this season against the Blues.

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Cuthbert then won the ball back deep in the Leicester half before rounding Janina Leitzig and finishing to double Chelsea’s lead just 10 minutes later. Leicester offered very little in reply as the Blues continued to pile the pressure on the relegation-threatened side in pursuit of retaining their WSL crown.

Harder added two goals before half-time as she tapped in after James’ drilled strike was parried to the back post by Leitzig. The Denmark forward then drove at the Leicester defence and grabbed a second with a low strike that Leitzig could not keep out.