Well thank you for joining me for this match. Chelsea have closed the gap on Manchester City with an absolute battering of Bristol City in an 8-0 win. The title race is on and it’s such an exciting end to the season. The report will drop here this evening, have a good rest of the bank holiday weekend.
Hayes is now out on the pitch, a huge cheer for the manager who has won over 10 titles in 12 years.
Both players are being interviewed on the pitch, a very emotional moment.
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Mjelde and Kirby go out first, both of them looking emotional. Two absolute legends of the club. They are both receiving a commemorative shirt.
Fans have remained at Kingsmeadow as Emma Hayes, Maren Mjelde and Fran Kirby will have a guard of honour here. A crackling atmosphere.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes told Sky: “We have had some disappointments and I think they wanted to put in a performance worthy of champions. We didn’t want to go out on a whimper, for Fran and Maren.
“If you told me Arsenal beat City and we win 8-0, what are the odds of that! I said to the players, our job is to be ready and today was another opportunity to get closer to something that was slipping out of our hands.
“It’s emotional. It’s tough, I have spent a third of my life doing this. This has been my life, my family. My son was born here. It has felt strange for me but I’m grateful. I look at the fans and I feel the love.”
A good thing to note from BBC’s Emma Sanders:
Worth pointing out Man City’s last 4 games vs Aston Villa in all competitions. It will also be Carla Ward’s last home game on the final day of the season…
— Emma Sanders (@em_sandy) May 5, 2024
Man City 2-1 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 2-1 Man City
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 4-3 Man City
A word for Bristol City’s goalkeeper Bentley, she has had a hard evening but she did put in some good saves which stopped the scoreline getting to double digits.
Reiten’s performance was really a leader showing the way, she isn’t Chelsea captain but that was a skipper performance. She inspired that utterly annihilation.
Guro Reiten is the first Chelsea women’s player to score four goals at home in the league. She told Sky: “Today has been a good day for us. We are never going to give up, from the first kick to the last we fought for every goal. Two games to go, it’s going to be fun. We have been in so many situations, this is a new one having to chase the goals but we can do anything.”
Chelsea play Tottenham on 15 May and then three days later it is the last day of the season. The Blues will have Manchester United on that day and Manchester City face Aston Villa. One of the closest run-ins ever.
Chelsea needed to score seven tonight to equalise Manchester City’s goal difference but they get eight. Of course Tottenham stand in their way to equal City’s point tally but the title race is on. This was also possible because City lost to Arsenal earlier today.
The game ends with a chant of “we love you Emma, we do” and Hayes looks visibly emotional at the end of her last home game. And what a result it is. Their biggest win since 2020.
Full time: Chelsea 8-0 Bristol City
Chelsea have absolutely blown Bristol City away and boosted their title race hopes as they are now in control of the goal difference. They are still three points behind Manchester City but they have a game in hand. This trophy battle is going down to the wire.
90 + 6 min: The corner doesn’t come to anything but Chelsea are still pushing, every time Kirby gets a touch the crowd scream “shoot” even if it isn’t shootable.
90 + 5 min: Reiten has been named player of the match and it is not a surprise. Four goals from four attempts on target. Kaneryd gets in a good position and shoots, Bentley makes a great save to stop it going to 9 but she does concede a corner.
90 + 3 min: As the amount of added minutes was announced to Kingsmeadow the Chelsea crowd celebrated and chanted “we want 10”. Chelsea make a change with Lawrence on for Beever-Jones and Bristol replace Jones with Stratigakis.
90 + 1 min: Kirby takes a shot and there are huge protests as they think it was handball but penalty calls are ignored. There will be six minutes added.
89 min: Reiten fizzes it into the box again, a defender gets a head to it but it rebounds into Beever-Jones – her second of the evening. Chelsea now have a greater goal difference.
GOAL! Chelsea 8-0 Bristol City (Beever-Jones, 88)
She fell into that!
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88 min: Both players are back to their feet and are okay to continue, great to see. Reiten pops it in again but it goes beyond any teammate, I’m running out of ways to describe Reiten tonight. She has just had such a phenomenal performance.
86 min: Reiten pops it in again, everything she touches is turning to gold tonight but Bristol manage to clear. Rogers and Cuthbert have collided and it looks like both are in pain, a break in play here.
84 min: Kirby almost has her dream ending at Kingsmeadow with a shot at goal but it well saved by Bentley. Chelsea keep coming, this is just a relentless performance.
82 min: Mjelde is being prepped on the sidelines for an appearance, it is her final home game too. Macario does really well to keep a move going as she was smothered by defenders but Bristol win it back. Mjelde is not on the pitch and she is met with huge applause, Bjorn comes off.
81 min: Okay now the maths has balanced, Man City no longer have a greater goal difference. Chelsea are on the attack again and Reiten crosses in but it is just beyond Macario.
79 min: It is another sumptuous finish from Reiten, her fourth of the evening. I said after her penalty that she was up for it and she has been the driving force of this team tonight. Chelsea crowd now saying “we want 10”, it’s hard to say they won’t score again at the moment.
GOAL! Chelsea 7-0 Bristol City (Reiten, 77)
They cannot be stopped.
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76 min: I also have mixed up my maths, Man City now have +1 goal difference so Chelsea will need to score another to level them. Chelsea crowd chanting “we want seven” and the hosts have just won another free kick.
75 min: Macario has a great delivery from the free kick and Charles is at the back post unmarked to finish. And Hamano almost adds another! I am typing so fast I am unsure why my laptop isn’t on fire.
GOAL! Chelsea 6-0 Bristol City (Charles, 74')
Wow.
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74 min: Manchester City now only have a +1 goal difference now, the title race is one the tightest in recent history which is saying something with the recent battles. There could be more goals to come with Chelsea winning a free kick.
72 min: Kirby passed to Macario who laid it off to Reiten who whacked it home, that was such a powerful strike and her third of the game. That is her first hat-trick. Bristol make a change with Hayles on for Syme.
GOAL! Chelsea 5-0 Bristol City (Reiten, 71)
Hat-trick hero!
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70 min: Macario tries to find Kirby but Bristol do well to muscle her off the ball, it is clear they are not happy with just four here. They have the goal difference in their mind right now, they have managed to cut it to +2 for Manchester City and Chelsea also have a game in hand. It is Bristol who have the next attack with a good run from Morgan and her pass comes to Thestrup but Musovic saves.
68 min: Powell is back to her feet and okay to continue here. Chelsea are immediately on the attack but a pass to Kaneryd has too much on it and it is out for a goal kick.
66 min: Kirby wins the ball and passes to Macario, she takes a shot but Connolly blocks really well. Chelsea do win a corner though and the delivery is good, it almost goes all the way in but Bentley keeps it out. It then lends to Macario whose shot is over the bar. Powell is down with injury here so there is a break in play.
64 min: Chelsea make a few changes with Ingle off for Kaneryd and Perisset off for Macario. No appearance from Mjelde yet, who also has her last home game today.
62 min: Reiten tries to pick out Hamano but it has a bit too much on it, the Blues stay in possession and they are really patient in their build-up play. However, Hamano can’t control and Powell clears.
60 min: Napier lays it off to Jones who pops it in but there is no one there to hit it home.
59 min: I did say at 2-0 the next goal could see Chelsea run away with this, Bristol need to just take a breath and shore up their defence. They started the second half well and they just need a bit of that composure back.
57 min: Oh my word. Guro Reiten is bang up for this one tonight. She absolutely whalloped it from outside the box, she screams and slaps the badge.
GOAL! Chelsea 4-0 Bristol City (Reiten, 56)
What a hit.
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56 min: Every time Kirby is on the ball the crowd come to life, she is a part of the latest Chelsea attack which ends in another Beever-Jones effort but it is well saved.
54 min: Cuthbert laid the ball to Beever-Jones and she finishes cleanly, Bristol’s defence just didn’t track her well enough. Bristol look to hit back immediately but Jones’ effort is over the bar.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Bristol City (Beever-Jones, 52')
Very well worked by the youngster.
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52 min: Charles has a good run and cross but it evades Hamano who almost connects, it feels as though the next goal is key. If Chelsea score they could run away with it, if it’s Bristol they could fight back.
51 min: The crowd want a free kick as Beever-Jones is tackled but nothing is given. Chelsea do have their first meaningful attack of the half though but it is out for a goal kick.
49 min: Thestrup makes a good run and tries to find Rogers but it glides across goal and Musovic is able to collect. The visitors have definitely carried the momentum they had at the end of the first half into the second.
47 min: Bristol win an early free kick, the delivery is good from Connolly but Bjorn clears.
Back underway! Chelsea 2-0 Bristol City
A second half which could have a big impact on the title race to come. Chelsea have made a change with Kirby on for Nusken, a huge cheer for Kirby with it being her last home game.
So if this result remains as it is then Chelsea would cut the gap to Manchester City to three points and would be four goals behind them on goal difference. The Blues also have a game in hand, the title race is going down to the wire.
The goals so far:
Guro Reiten from the spot! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/0P2erTtx1V
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) May 5, 2024
Sjoeke Nusken makes it two for the Blues! ✌ pic.twitter.com/x0lYPKItpT
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) May 5, 2024
Half time: Chelsea 2-0 Bristol City
Thestrup is up and able to continue on in this fixture. Well Chelsea are in control of this game thanks to a Reiten penalty and Nusken goal but Chelsea have left a lot of goal out there and Bristol are growing into this one. All to play for in the second half.
45 + 2 min: The ball comes in but Charles can’t connect to it. Thestrup is down with injury from the corner.
45 + 1 min: Cuthbert takes a chance but it is deflected out for a corner. There will be one minute added.
44 min: Bristol have definitely battened down the hatches since conceding the second, they have done really well defensively with Chelsea repelled at every opportunity.
42 min: Cuthbert wins a free kick and she takes it quickly, it comes to Reiten but her chance is cleared by Jones. Back and forth the ball goes between the teams but eventually Chelsea get it in again but it’s cleared and Bristol counter through Napier but the whistle stops her for offside.
40 min: “Come on Chelsea,” rings around Kingsmeadow but it is Bristol who attack next. An electric run from Napier see her lay it off to Syme but her chance is over the bar. Napier potentially should have chosen a better option there.
38 min: Chelsea are on the front foot but the steam in their engine seems to have waned slightly.
36 min: Bristol have a short spell going forwards and Napier wins a free kick from Bjorn, it’s kickable. The delivery is good but it can’t be controlled in the box and it’s out for a goal kick.
35 min: Ingle gives away the ball really sloppily, Morgan makes a great run and she passes to Napier with Bjorn having to concede a throw in to stop their attack.
34 min: The ball comes in but it has a bit too much on it for Beever-Jones to connect to it. This is relentless from Chelsea, this will exhaust Bristol and the next goal feels as thought it belongs to the Blues.
32 min: Nusken finds herself in the box with the fans shouting shoot but Bristol swarm her and the chance is gone.
30 min: Cuthbert gives away a free kick for a foul on Powell, it’s deep in the Bristol half and so they will have to build from deep here. They whack it forward but Chelsea win it back and soon unlock their attack (it feels as though I should just copy and paste that today!).
28 min: There is a loose pass at the back for Bristol but they do well to recover initially. Possession exchanges hands and Chelsea look to attack once more.
26 min: Bull manages to block Hamano’s effort as Chelsea start to hunt down Manchester City’s goal difference. Before the game began City had +6, that stands at +4 now. Nusken’s goal was also Emma Hayes’ 500th home goal as Chelsea manager.
24 min: Bentley initially saved that but it comes back down to Nusken, who was fallimg herself, and scores.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Bristol City (Nusken, 23')
Reiten, who has been electric for the hosts, crosses it in again but it is deflected out for a corner. Reiten is standing over the set piece, she pops it in and Nusken finishes.
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22 min: Apologies my laptop decided to freeze and so I missed a Chelsea corner but we still stand at 1-0. The Blues come again and a good cross came in but Beever-Jones’ effort is saved well by Bentley.
20 min: Reiten and Hamano execute a training pitch move, they connect with a one-two but the pass back from Hamano doesn’t reach Reiten.
18 min: Chelsea are getting it in the right areas but they either can’t find someone in the box or find the final touch to score. Beever-Jones is the latest to have a chance, she makes a good run and takes a punt but it is wide.
16 min: Powell wins a free kick from a foul by Hamano, that battle down the right has been so interesting so far. Morgan’s delivery is good and it falls to Jones but it is straight over the bar.
15 min: Cuthbert makes a great run, spurring the crowd into a raucous cheer but Bristol manage to wrestle the ball away and clear. The initial momentum that Chelsea had, which was smothering Bristol, seems to have eased.
13 min: Chelsea win a corner and the delivery is good but Nusken’s header is wide, the Blues players well defended in the box.
11 min: Bright has a huge lofting pass to Beever-Jones but the forward is offside, Bristol have barely had a sniff of the ball. Just as I write that they have their first attack, a really good run from Napier and she lays it off with Musovic needing to make a good save. Bristol may already be relegated but they are a deadly team.
9 min: Hamano is bang up for this, she is absolutely everywhere at the moment. Chelsea are setting up for another attack here, Reiten pops it in but Connolly clears.
7 min: In a real show of intent as soon as Reiten scored she ran in to pick up the ball to get the game restarted, they know the goal difference will make a difference. On the replay it looks like the foul from Bull may have been on the edge of the box. Of course no VAR and so the penalty stands.
PENATLY! Chelsea 1-0 Bristol City (Reiten, 6')
Well hit and Chelsea are ahead.
Updated
5 min: Chelsea have been awarded a penalty as Charles is fouled in the box.
5 min: Bristol are having to endure wave after wave of Chelsea attack at the moment, so far they are repelling the efforts but how long can they hold out? They have displayed this season they are a hard team to break down.
4 min: Hamano has had a lot of joy down the right so far, she pops the ball in but Bentley picks it up. Hamano is the central player in Chelsea’s first chance as she plays a one-two to Perisset but Hamano’s chance is just wide.
2 min: This is a big match, it was anyway but Man City’s loss means Chelsea are still in the race. Let me know your thoughts on it and on what you are up to this Sunday via email and X. Chelsea with the lionshare of possession so far.
Kick-off! Chelsea 0-0 Bristol City
Here we go then. Can Chelsea keep their title defence on track? Or can Bristol upset the Kingsmeadow party? All to come.
The crowd cheer loudly as Emma Hayes walks out at Kingsmeadow with her son for the final time.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes told Sky: “Of course it is emotional but I have to do my best to make sure I put that at bay until the end of the game because thinking about my life here with these fans and the journey I have had at Kingsmeadow I’d like to think it’s not the end, it’s merely a goodbye and I’ll see you soon.”
The title race run-in is as close as ever and here are the fixtures that are left for Chelsea and Manchester City, the two clubs who can still win the trophy.
Chelsea:
Bristol City, 5 May
Tottenham, 15 May
Manchester United, 18 May
Man City:
Aston Villa, 18 May
A moment from an interview between Erin Cuthbert and Guro Reiten went viral where Reiten said she had never tried an Irn Bru. Now at every game she is given one:
Another game, another Irn-Bru. 🙄🤣 #CFCW pic.twitter.com/eY9RjEnmKt
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 5, 2024
In the club programme today Hayes has said: “I just want to say what an honour and a privilege it has been to lead this football club. Thank you for always being behind the team, cheering us on whatever the circumstances, and for making this such a special journey. I love you all and I’ll never forget you.”
Bristol City manager Lauren Smith said: “It gives us another opportunity to go toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the league. From recent history, they’re the best team that’s been around. We’ll look at it as an opportunity and equally, two weeks after when we play Everton, that’s an opportunity for us to still try and get some points in front of a home crowd. For us, there’s plenty to play for.”
Today is Chelsea manager Emma Hayes’ last home game in charge before she departs this summer. Not only is it the boss’ last game in front of the club fans but it is Maren Mjelde and Fran Kirby’s last too with both playing announcing they will leave at the end of the season.
Here is the report from Manchester City’s loss to Arsenal if you want to catch up on any of the action:
Chelsea have shared their team news. Lauren James is not included because of injury but Millie Bright does start. Fran Kirby and Maren Mjelde both on the bench for their final home game.
Emma Hayes' final home selection. 📝#CFCW pic.twitter.com/oAW48F2pvU
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 5, 2024
Bristol’s team news is here. I’ll update you with Chelsea’s when they share it.
Bristol City:
Your City starting XI! 📋 pic.twitter.com/rbhIcCjVX8
— Bristol City Women (@bristolcitywfc) May 5, 2024
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to our coverage of the Women’s Super League. Manchester City’s loss to Arsenal earlier today has blown the title race wide open and Chelsea have the chance to close the gap on City this evening as they take on Bristol City.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes had said the title race was over when the Blues lost to Liverpool midweek but it is back on with City’s loss. Gareth Taylor’s side are currently six points clear but the Blues have two games in hand, including tonight’s fixture.
This season will see history made as previously no team had won the WSL title after losing three league matches. Both Chelsea and City have lost that amount this campaign.
However, Bristol could throw a spanner in the race as while they will be relegated from the league at the end of the season, their performances this campaign have been good. The team news will be out shortly before kick-off at 6.45pm BST.
