Chelsea glided to their second consecutive Barclays FA Women’s Super League title after beating Reading 5-0 at Kingsmeadow this afternoon.
Emma Hayes’ side dominated from the off with Melanie Leupolz settling any nerves with a goal in the first minute. Fran Kirby went on to net a brace while there were also goals for Sam Kerr and Erin Cuthbert as The Blues eased to another Barclays FA Women’s Super League title.
Chelsea started on the front foot with right-back Niamh Charles charging down the right-hand side of the pitch to win a corner inside the first minute. From the resulting set play, Jess Carter powered the ball towards Leupolz who turned and thumped her shot home to record the fastest goal of the 2020/2021 season.
In the 16th minute, Hayes’ side went close to doubling their lead with Kerr forcing a save out of Reading keeper Grace Moloney. Soon after, The Blues created another chance when Pernille Harder chipped the ball towards Kirby, however, Reading defender Kristine Leine tracked the England international well to defuse the situation.
The Berkshire side had defended well but they were breached three minutes before the break when the telepathic connection of Chelsea forwards Kirby and Kerr saw the pair perform a brilliant one-two, with the former dispatching the ball into the top right corner to make it 2-0.
Reading started the stronger side in the second half with Fara Williams forcing a save from Blues keeper Ann-Katrin Berger. Soon after, Brooke Chaplen was unable to convert after breaking past the Chelsea defence with Blues captain Magda Eriksson coming to the rescue.
Once more, the South West Londoners made Reading pay for their missed chances with Kerr and Kirby combining again to make it 3-0 with the latter powering her shot into the bottom left corner from outside of the box.
If the Barclays FA Women’s Super League title wasn’t wrapped up already, Kerr and Kirby again linked-up to devastating effect in the 70th minute as Chelsea established a 4-0 lead. This time, Kirby received the ball on the left side of the box before finding Kerr who volleyed her shot past an outstretched Moloney. Four minutes later, The Blues got their fifth goal of the afternoon when Kerr forced a save from Moloney and substitute Erin Cuthbert poked the ball over the line in the goal-line scramble which followed.
Chelsea will now look to add to their ever-growing trophy collection as they travel to Gothenburg to face Barcelona in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final next Sunday.