Chelsea hit five past Manchester United to bounce back in style
Chelsea thrashed Manchester United 5-0 in the Women's Super League on Sunday 13 September 2026.
It was a ruthless response at the Progress With Unity Stadium. Chelsea had drawn 1-1 with Aston Villa on the opening weekend. United had lost 2-1 to London City Lionesses. Both needed a lift. Only one got it, as reported by The Guardian.
Manager Sonia Bompastor made two changes for Chelsea, according to Chelsea FC. Aggie Beever-Jones dropped to the bench after leading the line against Villa. Chelsea were also without injured centre-forwards, the main strikers, Melvine Malard and Mayra Ramírez.
The solution was clever. Lauren James and Sjoeke Nüsken played interchangeably up front. James had a free-to-roam role, drifting wherever she could hurt United. Behind them, Chelsea started with a back three, three central defenders, which shifted at times to a back four and even a back two.
Nüsken struck first. In the 21st minute she finished from a Wieke Kaptein assist. Then Keira Walsh doubled the lead from the edge of the box after a pass from Lucy Bronze. Chelsea were sharp. James alone attempted five shots in the first half.
United had no answer after the break. Just after the hour, Walsh slipped James through. The England forward shrugged off Dominique Janssen and drilled a low shot home. It was familiar territory for James, a former United player who scored a hat-trick against them in a 3-1 Chelsea win at Stamford Bridge in 2024.
Ellie Carpenter made it four. Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce saved her first effort but Carpenter blasted in the follow-up. Bronze completed the rout in the final minute of added time after a knock-on from Walsh.
What makes this stand out is how fluid Chelsea looked without a recognised No 9. James roamed, Nüsken timed her runs, and Walsh pulled the strings from midfield. United could not track the movement.
For fans, this means the early table has already shifted. Chelsea have found their goals. United, in their second outing of the 2026/27 campaign and their first home game of the season, face Arsenal on 19 September with questions to answer. The noon kick-off, listed by Manchester United, brought a lunchtime crowd. They saw one team click, and the other fade.
