Chelsea's Sjoeke NuskenGetty Images
At a glance
Chasity Grant puts Aston Villa ahead in the second minute
Sam Kerr equalises for Chelsea with first of five goals in 15 minutes
Naomi Girma and Lauren James put Blues 3-1 up
Kirsty Hanson's quickfire double brings Villa level
Sjoeke Nusken curls in the winner late on
Chelsea up to second and boost Champions League hopes
Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist
Sjoeke Nusken scored a superb late winner as Chelsea beat Aston Villa in a seven-goal thriller to move up to second in the Women's Super League.
The Germany midfielder's first-time shot curled into the corner of the net to put the Blues ahead in the 82nd minute, finally breaking Villa's resistance.
Victory keeps Chelsea's extremely slim title hopes alive and keeps Champions League qualification in their own hands.
The defending champions were behind after less than two minutes at Kingsmeadow as Villa pounced on a sloppy pass from Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze and Chasity Grant swept home Lynn Wilms' cross.
But a chaotic first half really sparked into life after 20 minutes when Sam Kerr ran on to Nusken's through ball and saw her tame shot find a way past Villa keeper Ellie Roebuck.
That was the first of five goals in 15 minutes, with Chelsea taking the lead when Naomi Girma glanced Lauren James' delicious cross in at the far post before James extended the lead with a thumping 25-yard strike into the bottom corner.
Villa soon hit back, though, with Kirsty Hanson converting another Wilms cross at the back post to finish off a flowing move.
And Hanson's 12th league goal of the campaign, a smart near-post finish with her weaker right foot, drew them level in the 35th minute with Wilms completing a hat-trick of assists.
After a whirlwind first half, the second was somewhat calmer and while Chelsea were on top for the most part, Villa almost snatched the lead with Hanson's thunderous strike from 25 yards coming back off the post, having looked destined for the top corner.
However, the home side piled on the pressure as the game went on and it finally told with eight minutes remaining as Kerr teed up Nusken to bend the ball brilliantly into the far corner.
Villa came close to a late equaliser but defender Anna Patten was unable to turn in a teasing cross and Chelsea held on for a crucial victory.
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Player of the match
K. Hanson
7.75
Chelsea
Aston Villa
10L. James
7.43
6S. Nüsken
7.28
8E. Cuthbert
6.91
20S. Kerr
6.89
12A. Thompson
6.72
21N. Charles
6.69
2E. Carpenter
6.56
22L. Bronze
6.52
17S. Baltimore
6.45
5V. Buurman
6.43
30K. Walsh
6.40
16N. Girma
6.28
18W. Kaptein
6.26
32L. Potter
6.02
24H. Hampton
5.92
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20K. Hanson
7.75
26E. Roebuck
7.04
14L. Wilms
7.02
21L. Kendall
6.87
4A. Patten
6.83
23C. Grant
6.80
17E. Salmon
6.64
32J. Nighswonger
6.63
6O. Jean-François
6.48
13M. Hijikata
6.38
25M. Taylor
6.38
16N. Maritz
6.34
24O. Deslandes
6.20
1S. D'Angelo
6.18
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After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
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