Sonia Bompastor's side looked like they'd never been away following the winter break as they cruised to victory over the Hammers
Erin Cuthbert was at the heart of a dominant Chelsea display as the Blues won 5-0 away at West Ham to mark their return to Women's Super League action following the winter break with a bang.
It was one way traffic for much of the game, and it took just 11 minutes for the pressure on the weak West Ham defence to tell as a clever, flicked one-two between Sjoeke Nusken and Catarina Macario allowed the latter to score a side-footed volley from the edge of the penalty area.
The West Ham midfield struggled to contain Cuthbert, meanwhile, as she was allowed to orchestrate each attack, and the Scotland midfielder doubled the Blues’ advantage after being given space to drive a low effort into the bottom left corner. The hosts' misery was compounded yet further as Aggie Beever-Jones collected a poor Amber Tysiak pass to score from the edge of the box after 44 minutes and send the Blues into the break 3-0 up.
The Hammers’ persistence to pass out the back was punished again by the league leaders in the second period as Niamh Charles robbed Kirsty Smith to set up Sandy Baltimore to make it four. Sonia Bompastor then rang the changes, and the game looked to be fizzling out before Tysiak diverted a cutback into her own net as the WSL leaders made a statement to their title rivals.
GOAL rates Chelsea's players from the Chigwell Construction Stadium…
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence
Hannah Hampton (6/10):
Made first save of the afternoon in the 69th minute on a quiet day between the sticks.
Lucy Bronze (6/10):
Quiet but solid performance from the England right-back, who dealt with the little asked of her by a blunt Hammers attack.
Millie Bright (6/10):
Caught out by the pace of Piubel in the first half to almost hand West Ham a way back into the game, but strong otherwise.
Nathalie Bjorn (7/10):
Anticipated a wayward, floated Szemik pass to intercept and set up Cuthbert for the second.
Niamh Charles (7/10):
Quick to seize upon a poor touch by Smith and set Baltimore up. A threat down the left throughout.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield
Sjoeke Nusken (7/10):
Worked well with Cuthbert in a double pivot. Her superb control and flick to lay off Macario led to the opener.
Erin Cuthbert (9/10):
Ran the show in the middle of the park and deserved her goal – a low drive into the bottom left-corner from the edge of the box to double the Blues’ advantage.
Catarina Macario (8/10):
Operating ahead of Nusken and Cuthbert and behind Ramirez, her spectacular volley was the pick of the goals and set the Blues on their way.
Getty ImagesAttack
Sandy Baltimore (8/10):
Thunderous effort from the edge of the box was too much for Szemik. A constant menace for the Hammers defence.
Mayra Ramírez (7/10):
Not on the scoresheet but an impressive all-round display from the Colombian who was substituted ahead of a busy period of games.
Aggie Beever-Jones (7/10):
Should have scored early when her headed effort was cleared off the line by Denton, but made up for it with a sumptuous effort from the right side of the box into the top left.
Subs & Manager
Oriane Jean Francois (6/10):
A solid, routine display from the French midfielder who maintained the Chelsea domiance.
Guro Reiten (6/10):
A bright cameo.
Maika Hamano (6/10):
The game was won by the time Hamano came on, but got involved in the Blues attacks.
Ashley Lawrence (5/10):
Saw out the Blues win and the defender will be pleased with a clean sheet.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (5/10):
Made a little impact off the bench, but the three points were already sewn up.
Sonia Bompastor (9/10):
A winning return to WSL action for Bompastor, whose side are now seven points clear.
