WSL: Chelsea go top of WSL with a 7-0 thumping of Crystal Palace

Chelsea, the reigning Women's Super League winners, scored six second-half goals to defeat Crystal Palace 7-0 on Friday, taking an early lead in the table ahead of the weekend's matchups.

After losing 4-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in their first game last weekend, Palace appeared to be defending pretty well in the early stages, but Chelsea, who defeated Aston Villa 2-0 in their first league game, broke their resistance with an Aggie Beever-Jones goal in the 38th minute.

It all went wrong for the Eagles after the break, with Chelsea fullback Lucy Bronze, who signed in the off-season when her contract with Barcelona expired, making it two in the 48th minute with a perfectly-placed rising strike, and things only got worse from there for the home side.

Lauren James added the third before the hour mark with a close-range effort, and winger Guro Reiten and defender Nathalie Bjorn added two more within a few minutes.

Reiten added another goal in the 90th minute to make it 6-0, and Catarina Macario capped the rout with a stoppage-time goal to put the Blues on top with a perfect six points after two games, three ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion, who travel to face Manchester City on Sunday.

Palace's first two top-flight games have resulted in no goals scored and 11 conceded, placing them at the bottom of the 12-team league.

SportsLigue