Chelsea Women put four goals past Charlton in the first 19 minutes at The Valley and never looked back. A 6-0 win sends the Blues back to the top of the Women's Super League, level on points with champions Manchester City but ahead on goal difference.
Four in 19 minutes
It took three minutes for Chelsea to score. Katie McCabe put a cross into the area and Nathalie Bjorn rose highest to loop a header into the far corner. Charlton goalkeeper Anna Koivunen then made her worst mistake of the afternoon, fumbling the ball into her own net as Melvine Malard closed in, and the second goal went to Malard.
Lauren James had a go from the edge of the box and Koivunen could only parry it, which left Ellie Carpenter the first to react and she slotted in her second goal in two games. Malard added Chelsea's fourth soon after, poking home from close range. She thought she had a 12-minute hat-trick, but that one was ruled out for a tight offside.
A worry, and two late goals
Chelsea's only moment of concern came when James went down while running onto the ball and had to be substituted after 35 minutes. After the break, substitute Aggie Beever-Jones latched onto a clever flick from Keira Walsh to score her first goal since September 2025. Then Giulia Dragoni capped the win with a brilliant turn and finish, her first goal for the club.
The score could have been bigger. Sandy Baltimore and Maika Hamano both hit the woodwork, and Alyssa Thompson was clean through but sent her shot wide.
Charlton's long wait for points
Charlton remain bottom with no points from eight games. For the fourth time this season they have conceded four or more in a league match, and the count against them is now 25 goals. They have failed to score in five of those eight matches. Koivunen did make saves from Thompson and Manaka Matsukubo, but the damage was done in the first 20 minutes. Their next match is against fellow newcomers Crystal Palace next Sunday.
Chelsea chasing the title again
Sonia Bompastor's side have won their last seven league matches after drawing with Aston Villa on the opening day. They also have 11 more goals than Manchester City this season. That matters because goal difference could decide this title race, as it did three seasons ago when Chelsea won the league on exactly that tiebreaker. Last year City finished six points clear of third-placed Chelsea, and this season the Blues are plainly determined not to leave it to chance.
Match facts: Charlton Athletic 0-6 Chelsea, Women's Super League, The Valley, Sunday 1 November 2026. Goals: Nathalie Bjorn 3', Melvine Malard (two, both in the first 19 minutes, one credited after a goalkeeper error), Ellie Carpenter (first half), Aggie Beever-Jones and Giulia Dragoni (second half). Chelsea are level on points with Manchester City but top on goal difference.
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