Chelsea secured their fifth-consecutive Women’s Super League win with victory over Tottenham in manager Sonia Bompastor’s 50th game in the competition.
Two goals each from Lauren James and Ellie Carpenter, along with strikes from substitutes Sjoeke Nusken and Maika Hamano, helped the Blues claim three points and move to the top of the table.
The result was achieved through an exercise in ruthlessness from Chelsea in the second half as they scored three times in a nine-minute spell put Martin Ho’s side to the sword.
In the first half, James had caught Spurs defender Toko Koga in possession just outside her own box, feinted and drove towards goal before clipping the opener past Lize Kop from a tight angle.
However, Spurs were well in the game for much of the match and deserved their equaliser as Matilda Vinberg headed in Julie Blakstad’s cross at the far post after a sustained spell of pressure.
After the interval, the north Londoners were on top, but Alyssa Thompson’s brilliant dribbling created the opening for Chelsea’s second.
The United States attacker drove into the box and pulled back a low cross into a dangerous area, which the advancing Carpenter turned into the net.
Chelsea regained full control after retaking the lead, with James curling a superb finish across Kop and into the far corner just four minutes later after being played in by Lucy Bronze.
Substitute Nusken had been on the pitch for only five minutes before adding a fourth with a powerful strike, with Hamano scoring a swerving 30-yard strike to add a fifth.
Spurs midfielder Signe Gaupset tucked away a consolation goal late on after winning the ball on the edge of Chelsea’s box but, after a touch and near post shot, Carpenter scored a sixth in added time.
The result means Bompastor has amassed 125 points, more than any manager in Women’s Super League history across their first 50 matches.
Spurs, meanwhile, remain fourth but having played a game more than most of their rivals and they have now fallen to consecutive defeats.
Chelsea analysis: James takes her side up a level
It was another impressive display from Chelsea forward James, who has been managed carefully in the early part of the season after a series of minor injuries.
Before kick-off, Bompastor spoke positively about her key attacker’s fitness after James scored twice for England against Greece during the international break.
She matched that feat once again for her club, scoring two goals that few in the division could replicate, either technically or physically.
For the first, she brushed Koga off the ball, turned brilliantly and drove 20 yards before finishing a right-foot chance largely of her own making.
In the second half, James helped to put the game beyond Spurs.
She played in Thompson, whose pace created Chelsea’s second goal, before shifting the ball on to her left foot and finding the far corner for the third.
With Chelsea 4-1 ahead after Nusken’s goal, Bompastor withdrew James five minutes later to manage her workload leading into a busy run of fixtures.
Despite key figures, including Bompastor, insisting Chelsea remain a team in transition following a disappointing league campaign, they are emerging as serious contenders to regain the title from Manchester City.
With James scoring goals, creating chances and influencing matches again, it would be difficult to discount Chelsea’s chances of winning the title in Bompastor’s third season in charge.
