Man City 5-1 Chelsea: Kerolin scores hat-trick as hosts thrash WSL rivals

Kerolin scored an exquisite hat-trick as Manchester City ensured they have one hand on the Women’s Super League trophy after a huge victory over rivals Chelsea.

Their lead at the top of the table extends to 11 points over second-placed Manchester United, while Chelsea fall 12 points adrift in third place.

In what was a must-win game for defending champions Chelsea, City did not allow the visitors to gain control and were deservedly 2-0 up at half-time.

Brazilian international Kerolin set the tone with a powerful finish after 13 minutes, before Khadija Shaw shrugged off defender Naomi Girma to slot in City’s second.

Kerolin then delivered the game’s best moment when she ran the length of the pitch, burst away from midfielder Keira Walsh and chipped goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, igniting a roar from the home fans as reality began to sink in.

With City’s tails between their legs, Kerolin grabbed his hat-trick with a tap-in from close range five minutes later.

That was job done but City did not stop there as Vivianne Mediema headed in a fifth goal later on, after Chelsea’s Alyssa Thompson scored a consolation.

It is the furthest Chelsea have been from the top in the WSL since the final day of the 2018-19 season when they were 12 points behind Arsenal.

It is a huge drop-off for Sonia Bompastor’s side, who went 34 games unbeaten and won a domestic treble last season in her first year in charge.

United’s victory over Liverpool earlier on Sunday saw them move up to second, 11 points behind City, while Arsenal have a game in hand and sit in fourth.