Shaw scores as City crush Chelsea’s WSL hopes

MANCHESTER, England:

Jamaican international Khadijah 'Bunny' Shaw's first-half goal helped Manchester City crush defending champions Chelsea 5-1 and extend their lead at the top of the Women's Super League (WSL) on Sunday.

Shaw scored in the 36th minute, and along with a hat-trick by Brazilian Kerolin and a late strike by Vivianne Mediema, condemned Chelsea to a third defeat, leaving them in third place on 27 points.

It is a huge drop-off for Sonia Bompastor's side, who went 34 games unbeaten and won a domestic treble last season in her first year in charge.

Meanwhile, Man City rose to 39 points, 11 more than second-place Manchester United, with eight matches remaining in the season.

Playing at the Etihad Stadium, Kerolin set the tone with a powerful finish after 13 minutes, before Shaw shrugged off defender Naomi Girma to make it 2-0.

It was Shaw's 14th goal in 14th matches this season, the most by any player in the WSL so far, with the next closest challenger having scored seven goals.

Kerolin then delivered the game's best moment when she ran the length of the pitch, burst away from midfielder Keira Walsh and chipped goalkeeper Hannah Hampton four minutes into the second half.

With City's tails between their legs, Kerolin grabbed her hat-trick with a tap-in from close range five minutes later to increase their lead to 4-0.

Chelsea's Alyssa Thompson scored a consolation in the 68th minute, but Mediema headed in a fifth goal in the 72nd minute to complete the rout. - CMC