Chelsea Women produced their best performance of the season so far as Sonia Bompastor’s side thrashed Manchester United 5-0.
Sjoeke Nüsken and Keira Walsh put the Blues in control before half-time, with Lauren James, Ellie Carpenter and Lucy Bronze adding three more after the break.
Chelsea finished with 63 per cent possession, 25 attempts and 11 shots on target, while United managed only two efforts across the entire match.
It was the ruthless response Bompastor wanted after ReadChelsea previously highlighted how Chelsea’s 32-shot display against Aston Villa exposed a finishing problem.
Here are the ReadChelsea player ratings.
Hannah Hampton – 6.5
One of the easiest afternoons Hampton will have all season.
Manchester United barely threatened, with their only notable early effort comfortably dealt with by the Chelsea goalkeeper.
Hampton remained alert when required and deserved the clean sheet.
Ellie Carpenter – 9
An outstanding performance.
Carpenter provided constant energy down the right and eventually got the goal her display deserved.
Wieke Kaptein won possession high up the pitch before releasing the Australian, who drove into the area and finished to make it 4-0.
Chelsea’s width caused United enormous problems all afternoon and Carpenter was central to it.
Lucy Bronze – 9.5 — STAR PLAYER
Superb.
Bronze captained Chelsea, adapted seamlessly within Bompastor’s fluid defensive structure and contributed at both ends of the pitch.
Her intelligent first-time pass created Walsh’s first-half goal before she completed the scoring herself in stoppage time.
Bompastor was particularly impressed, describing Bronze as “unbelievable” and praising the way she guided those around her.
A captain’s performance.
Kadeisha Buchanan – 7.5
A strong return to the starting XI.
Buchanan was rarely troubled but still produced an excellent recovery challenge when Lea Schüller appeared to escape late in the game.
She was booked in stoppage time but otherwise looked composed throughout.
Katie McCabe – 7.5
Another assured performance from Chelsea’s summer signing.
McCabe offered balance on the left and played her part in a defensive unit that restricted United to almost nothing.
Withdrawn after 71 minutes with the game already won.
Keira Walsh – 9
Dominated midfield.
Walsh doubled Chelsea’s advantage with an excellent strike from outside the box before later supplying the through-ball for James to score the third.
Her partnership with Potter completely overwhelmed United through the centre.
The Guardian’s live coverage highlighted Walsh and Potter’s midfield dominance as Chelsea took complete control of the contest.
🌟 Keira Walsh is named Player of the Match. pic.twitter.com/giGbOWdHUC
— Chelsea Women (@CFC__Women) September 13, 2026
Lexi Potter – 8.5
What a first WSL start.
Potter justified Bompastor’s surprise selection with a mature performance alongside Walsh.
She competed aggressively, used possession intelligently and helped Chelsea dictate the tempo from start to finish.
United simply could not establish themselves in midfield.
This was exactly the sort of performance that can earn the academy graduate more opportunities.
Sjoeke Nüsken – 8.5
Opened the scoring and caused United problems with her intelligent movement throughout.
Nüsken regularly moved into advanced areas as Chelsea operated without a conventional No.9.
Her opener rewarded a relentless Chelsea press and settled any early nerves.
She even came close to adding another late on with an ambitious attempted lob.
Wieke Kaptein – 8.5
Excellent.
Kaptein reacted fastest to United’s mistake before setting up Nüsken for the opening goal.
She then won possession high up the pitch before supplying Carpenter for Chelsea’s fourth.
Two decisive contributions alongside an energetic midfield performance.
Lauren James – 9
Chelsea’s tactical wildcard delivered again.
Bompastor used James in a fluid central role rather than starting a recognised striker, and United never really worked out how to deal with her movement.
James made it 3-0 with a composed first-time finish from Walsh’s pass and has now scored in both WSL matches this season.
Speaking after the game, James said Chelsea had learned from the Aston Villa draw and were determined to keep chasing goals after taking the lead.
Another excellent afternoon.
Alyssa Thompson – 7.5
A constant threat down Chelsea’s left.
Thompson stretched United’s defence and repeatedly looked to attack her full-back.
She also delivered a dangerous second-half cross that Carpenter somehow kept alive near the six-yard box.
Not among the scorers, but her movement helped create space for others.
Substitutes
Veerle Buurman – 6.5
Replaced McCabe with Chelsea 4-0 ahead and helped see out a comfortable clean sheet.
Sandy Baltimore – 6.5
Added fresh energy after replacing Thompson and kept Chelsea aggressive down the flank.
Maika Hamano – 6.5
Came on for James with the result secure and helped Chelsea maintain possession and pressure.
Giulia Dragoni – 6.5
Made her WSL debut after replacing Kaptein in the closing stages.
A positive milestone on an excellent afternoon for Chelsea.
Nelly Las – 6.5
Replaced Carpenter late on after the Australian’s outstanding display.
Had little defensive work to do as Chelsea comfortably closed the game out.
Chelsea ratings verdict
This was almost the complete opposite of the Aston Villa draw.
Chelsea again dominated possession and chances, but this time they were ruthless.
Bronze produced a captain’s display, Walsh and Potter completely controlled midfield and James flourished in Bompastor’s fluid attacking system.
Chelsea’s pressing was equally impressive.
United finished with just two shots, compared with Chelsea’s 25, while Bompastor’s side turned their superiority into five different goalscorers.
The challenge now is making this level of performance the standard rather than the exception.
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