WSL highlights: Ruthless Chelsea dominate WSL newly-promoted Crystal Palace

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Selhurst Park

Chelsea wrapped up a stunning victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park to continue their winning start to the Women's Super League campaign.

The Blues took the lead through Aggie Beever-Jones when she finished off a devastating counter-attack after a positive Palace move broke down.

The reigning WSL champions then pulled further away when summer signing Lucy Bronze made it 2-0 quickly after the break, before Lauren James, Nathalie Bjorn, Catarina Macario and two from Guro Reiten added to their goal tally.

Laura Kaminski's newly-promoted Palace side showed promise despite the heavy defeat in their first home WSL match, coming close through Annabel Blanchard, Indiah-Paige Riley and Katie Stengel.

But though they defended well for large spells of the first half, Chelsea were still able to create chances and it was only a matter of time before they showed their clinical approach in front of goal.

England forward James was a constant threat, while Johanna Rytting Kaneryd continued her hugely impressive start to the season with another assist and dominating display on Chelsea's right wing.

Full-back Bronze was rewarded for her attacking intent with a first goal since joining from Barcelona, and already proving to be a strong recruit by new manager Sonia Bompastor.

This was another harsh lesson for Palace, who are yet to score a WSL goal and have conceded 11 in their first two matches.

Blues swagger to success as Palace punished

Lucy Bronze's finish doubles Chelsea's lead

This was a big night for Palace as more than 5,000 fans travelled to Selhurst Park to watch their first home match in the WSL and dreaming of a major upset.

Chairman Steve Parish was among those in attendance and there were flags draped across one section of the Holmesdale Road stand welcoming the players as they walked out of the tunnel.

Palace knew they were in for a battle immediately when James, brought back into the starting XI by manager Bompastor, had an early shot blocked inside the area.

The hosts had chances, though. Had they taken them, it might have been a different story.

Mille Gejl and Lily Woodham, making her first start for Palace, were involved in some bright attacks down the left-hand side, while Blanchard and Stengel were a threat through the middle.

But the hunt for a goal reward came with a heavy risk and Palace learned the hard way when a run in behind by Stengel almost caught out Chelsea's defence before the visitors recovered, won the ball back and broke quickly through Kaneryd.

The Sweden international teed up Beever-Jones, who completed a devastating counter-attack to put Chelsea ahead in the 38th minute.

Still only 1-0 down, Palace came out full of hope in the second half but it turned into a nightmare as the Blues racked up six goals after the restart.

Bronze fired in a second within three minutes and that opened the floodgates in an unforgiving final 45 minutes for the hosts.

James poked in from close range for a deserved third, before Reiten twice, Macario and Bjorn capitalised on a tired Palace defence as Chelsea's quality shone through in abundance.

They were tested at home by Aston Villa in their opening-game 1-0 win last weekend, but this was a display which carried more swagger and ruthlessness – two traits they will need to retain their crown this season.

Player of the match

G. Reiten
8.15
10 A. Blanchard
5.16
28 K. Stengel
5.11
30 S. Yáñez
4.89
20 I. Riley
4.72
3 F. Gibbons
4.58
22 M. Gejl
4.58
14 J. Green
4.53
6 A. Everett
4.50
23 L. Woodham
4.47
5 M. Cato
4.44
2 K. Veje
4.22
27 A. Larkin
4.21
8 M. Sharpe
3.65
11 A. Weerden
3.57
12 P. Pritchard
3.50
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