Chelsea responded emphatically to a spirited Spurs first half performance, scoring three times in nine minutes after the break to secure a commanding 6-2 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Lauren James and Ellie Carpenter both scored twice, while goals from Sjoeke Nüsken and Maika Hamano kept Chelsea unbeaten in the WSL this season.
Spurs’ defensive shape left gaps for Chelsea to exploit, with their two defensive midfielders, Signe Gaupset and Drew Spence, often positioned too high to protect the space in front of the back four.
Chelsea repeatedly looked to exploit those gaps with runs and balls in behind, but Spurs’ defenders, particularly Toko Koga and Ella Morris, did well to recover and limit Melvine Málard and Alyssa Thompson’s opportunities in the first half, blocking shots and making crucial tackles.
Chelsea’s pressure eventually paid off in the 25th minute when Lauren James stole the ball from Toko Koga as she tried to play out from the back. James drove towards goal, holding off a challenge before firing home from an extremely tight angle to beat Lize Kop at the far corner. It was a finish that showcased her individual quality, once again making a difficult chance look deceptively simple.
Spurs drew level just before half-time through Matilda Vinberg, who finished from close range after Julie Blakstad was given far too much time and space on the left edge of the box. It was a well-earned reward for Spurs’ attacking quality in the first half, and they looked to have Chelsea stunned for a period afterwards. Two minutes later, Drew Spence took the opportunity to shoot from range, narrowly clearing the crossbar.
Spurs manager Martin Ho could be seen applauding and urging his players to sustain that intensity, but Chelsea responded in kind by scoring three times in nine minutes to kill the game.
Chelsea’s go-ahead goal came after Alyssa Thompson made an excellent run down the left and delivered for Ellie Carpenter, who fired past Kop. The combination between Thompson and Carpenter has become a familiar and effective feature of Chelsea’s play over the past two seasons — as has the brilliance of Lauren James.
James doubled Chelsea’s lead minutes later, scoring her second of the afternoon. After assessing the options either side of her, she decided to go alone. Her finish found the bottom-right corner, reigniting the energy and noise inside Stamford Bridge.
Sjoeke Nüsken added a fourth five minutes later, making an immediate impact off the bench, before substitute Hamano scored the fifth with a screamer into the top corner. Gaupset’s consolation goal immediately after the restart had no bearing on the result.
James came close to completing her hat-trick, in the final few minutes as Chelsea fans bayed for a sixth. Ellie Carpenter fulfilled their wishes, scoring an excellent goal on the turn with her left foot in stoppage time.
For Spurs, it is now two challenging back-to-back defeats after they lost 6-1 to London City Lionesses in their previous match before the international break. However, despite the lopsided scorelines, the Lilywhites have demonstrated that they have enough attacking talent to regain their early-season form.
Chelsea, meanwhile, look like a thoroughbred in what could become a two-horse race in the WSL this season.