Reiten hits four as Chelsea hit eight against Bristol City to keep hopes of retaining WSL title alive

By Paul Lagan at Kingsmeadow

Chelsea 8 v Bristol City 0

Guro Reiten hit probably the most important goals of her Chelsea career as the Blues thumped relegated Bristol City 8-0 at Kingsmeadow this evening.

Reiten hit four – three blasters and a penalty, as the three points, added to the sensational defeat of leaders Manchester City, at home to Arsenal 1-2 earlier in the day, meant that the west Londoners chance of keeping their WSL title was re-ignited following their midweek loss at Liverpool.

The goal difference was seven and they eradicated that and even improved on it in a pulsating and clinical assault on the bottom side on the league.

Other strikes from Sjoeke Nusken, a brace by Aggie Beever-Jones, and Niamh Charles.

The game was almost irrelevant at the start of the day as the title looked to be heading to the North West. Instead it was to be a celebration of head coach Emma Hayes last game at home as well as that of stalwarts Maren Mjelde and Fran Kirby.

That all changed at around 4pm when news of the north Londoners defeat of City.

It took just four minutes of intense pressure by the Blues to reach their goal of a goal, when Guro Reiten slotted home from the spot kick after Sjoeke Nusken was tripped in the Bristol penalty area.

Chelsea stopper Zecira Musovic was called into action as already relegated Bristol took a counter-attack chance. The Sweden stopper twice blocked efforts at her near post – both efforts set up by ex-Chelsea winger Jamie-Lee Napier.

An excellent attack which resulted in Niamh Charles sending a cross a left byline drive, almost reaped dividends when Aggie Beever-Jones latched onto the ball but scuffed the effort and the ball But fell into the path of goalkeeper Fran Bentley.

But an equally scuffed effort from close range 40 seconds later saw Nusken tuck the ball home to make it 2-0.

Hayes decided to bring on Fran Kirby at half-time for Nusken.

A goal race was on when Beever-Jones showed her ever-increasing importance to the side when she slotted home coolly on 51 minutes to extend the lead to 3-0.

Guro Reiten then got in on the act with a left-footed blaster from 30 yards, that hardly left the ground as it zoomed past Bentley and lodged in the back of her net to make it 4-0 on 55 minutes

Off went Ingle and Perisset, and on came Catarina Macario and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd. On 62 minutes, Reiten opted to have another shot, this time from a slight;y acute angle and she did not disappoint as the sheer power of her left-footer powered the ball past Bentley and her bear post on 70 minutes to make it 5-0.

Number six was a beauty as well – a Macario free-kick from the right, went deep and Charles was on hand to smash the ball home past the now despairing Bentley.

That put the goal difference between them and leaders man City to one goal.

Sensationally, two minutes later, Reiten hit her hat-trick with a wonderful drive from then edge of the box.

Chants of 'we want eight,' echoed round Kingsmeadow as the Blues levelled the goal deficit with City.

Also leaving when her contract expires in the summer is Maren Mjelde and she got the last 10 minutes on the pitch when she replaced Natalie Bjorn.

Number eight came from the head of Beever-Jones to make it 8-0 with a minute left.

Chelsea are away to Spurs on Wednesday where they play their catchup game, then it's all eyes on the final game of the season on May 18 when the Blues are at Manchester United and City away to Aston Villa.

Teams: Chelsea: Musovic, Bright, Ingle, Nusken, Reiten, Perisset, Charles, Cuthbert, Hamano, Beever-Jones, Jones

Subs: Hampton, Carter, Leupolz Macario, Lawrence, Kirby, Mjelde, Rytting Kaneryd, Buchanan

Bristol City: Bentley Powell, Struck, Connolly, Rodgers, Napier, Bull, Syme, Threstrup, Jones, Morgan

 Subs: Clark, Yanez, Harrison, Hayles, Stratigakis, Evans, Ward, Slocombe Kendell

Referee: Stacey Fullicks