Chelsea cruised to a 4-0 victory at West Ham due to objectives from Niamh Charles, Pernille Tougher, Sophie Ingle and Erin Cuthbert to go away themselves simply two wins from a fourth consecutive Girls’s Tremendous League title.
The victory places Emma Hayes’ aspect two factors away from Manchester United and 5 away from Arsenal with simply two video games to play. They’ll remove the Gunners from rivalry in the event that they keep away from defeat when the 2 sides meet on Sunday, with Chelsea then ending their marketing campaign at Studying on Might 27.
The Blues dominated all through on the Dagenham and Redbridge Stadium and took the lead after simply 13 minutes via Charles, whereas West Ham have been a contact lucky to be just one objective down at half-time after a sequence of dangerous Hawa Cissoko challenges within the space.
However Chelsea doubled their lead shortly after half-time via Tougher and the factors have been secured by Ingle’s close-range header and Cuthbert’s highly effective drive, with the outcome leaving West Ham eighth and nonetheless with out a league win in 2023.
How Chelsea closed on one other WSL title
Arsenal’s win at Everton earlier on Wednesday raised the stakes for Chelsea forward of kick-off at West Ham and ensured three groups will nonetheless be in title rivalry forward of the penultimate spherical of fixtures.
However the Blues know they’ve the title of their fingers after their fifth win in a row, whereas their victory over the Hammers additionally formally dominated Manchester Metropolis out of rivalry for prime spot.
West Ham made their intentions of irritating Chelsea clear with their five-player defence however the plan fell aside after simply 13 minutes when Charles swept within the rebound after Sam Kerr’s shot was blocked.
Cissoko might have earlier conceded a penalty when she moved her arm into the way in which of a shot, with the West Ham defender then escaping punishment for a slipshod sort out on Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and solely seeing a free-kick awarded for a push on Kerr on the sting of the world.
Mackenzie Arnold made a wise cease from Tougher earlier than the half was out however she might get nowhere close to her effort within the forty eighth minute, with the Denmark worldwide lashing the ball into the far nook after being arrange by Ingle.
The midfielder then added her title to the scoresheet when Arnold tipped Magdalena Eriksson’s header onto the bar, solely to see the ball fall to Ingle simply yards from objective.
Amalie Thestrup noticed a shot cleared off the road by Jessica Carter and Kate Longhurst drilled a half-volley simply over as West Ham looked for a comfort objective, solely to see Cuthbert come off the bench to smash in Chelsea’s fourth in stoppage time.
Chelsea are actually unbeaten in 10 WSL video games towards West Ham – 9 of which have been wins – whereas they’ve misplaced simply one among their final 25 London derbies within the competitors.
What’s next?
West Ham go to Leicester of their penultimate WSL fixture on Sunday Might 21 at 3pm earlier than ending at dwelling towards Tottenham on Saturday Might 27, kick-off 2.30pm.
Chelsea proceed their title quest with an enormous fixture at dwelling to Arsenal on Sunday Might 21, kick-off 12.30pm, earlier than finishing their season at Studying on Saturday Might 27, kick-off 2.30pm.