It was Emma Hayes’ last home game as the Chelsea manager after 12 years and her team made it a memorable one with their biggest Women’s Super League win since 2020.
Chelsea started the day six points behind Man City (currently first in the league) and the dream of winning the league being just that, a dream.
Even Hayes doubted her team would finish on top after they lost 4-3 to Liverpool last Wednesday 1 May.
Ahead of kick-off she said: “I don’t think the title will be heading to us this year.”
But everything was about to change.
The first victory for Chelsea came just hours before the match when Arsenal beat Man City 2-1 in extra time, keeping Chelsea’s championship hopes alive.
It was then the Blues’ time to do their part against an already relegated Bristol City team.
Bristol had to endure wave after wave of attack from Chelsea right from kick-off with Guro Reiten scoring the first goal of the night from the penalty spot within the first six minutes.
Another goal followed less than half an hour into the game as Reiten took a corner and Sjoeke Nusken scored, this was Hayes’ 500th home goal as Chelsea manager.
After this second goal, Bristol did well defensively until half time to prevent Chelsea scoring again.
Less than ten minutes into the second half, Aggie Beever-Jones scored Chelsea’s third goal after Erin Cuthbert laid the ball to her.
Reiten made it 4-0 less than five minutes later after finding herself well ahead of the defence and striking the top corner of the net at the 56th minute mark.
The Norwegian winger then completed her hat-trick after finishing off a thorough-ball from Catarina Macario.
Niamh Charles scored off a free-kick from Macario to make it 6-0.
At this point Chelsea needed another goal to level with Man City’s goal difference.
At the 77th minute, the Kingsmeadow stadium exploded in joy as Reiten completed her haul of the evening with a smashing finish into the far corner.
By this point the ecstatic crowd were chanting: “We want 8! We want 8!”
Their wishes came true as Beever-Jones scored her second and made it 8-0 less than ten minutes before the final whistle.
Chelsea completely wiped-out the Bristol City team and clawed their way back from a massive goal deficit after needing to score seven in this game to equalise Man City’s goal difference.
They are still three points behind Manchester City but have a game in hand over them and that one goal difference going into the last fortnight of the season.
An incredible performance which has left the Blues with a good chance of clinching their 7th WSL title.
The game ended with a crowded stadium of elated Chelsea fans chanting “we love you Emma, we do” and a visibly emotional Hayes.
She is the most successful manager in WSL history and will soon take on the biggest women’s football job in the world as she makes the move to manage the United States national team.
A triumphant Hayes told the crowd: “Let me be clear, it’s not f****** over.
“There is no time for sentimentality.
“All work drinks are cancelled, there’s a title to be won.”
“That group of players, I’ve been here 12 years, no matter what, with a group of people driving standards.
“This group taught me something so special this week that you never, ever give up.
“This is Chelsea.”
There couldn’t have been a better way of saying goodbye to Hayes at home.
The Blues will continue their fight for the championship on Wednesday 15 May against Tottenham.
Their final game will take place on the Saturday 18 May against Manchester United.
An exciting final stretch of the Women’s Super League is ahead of Chelsea and their fans.
In Reiten’s words: “Now with two games to go, it’s going to be fun.”
Featured image credit: Sally Dixon
