Guro Reiten grabs four goals as Chelsea thrash Bristol City

Guro Reiten scored four goals as Chelsea thrashed Bristol City 8-0 to keep their Women’s Super League title hopes alive in Emma Hayes’ final home game in charge.

Aggie Beever-Jones (2), Sjoeke Nusken and Niamh Charles also got on the scoresheet to boost the Blues’ goal difference, after leaders Manchester City had earlier lost at home to Arsenal.

The Blues started strongly and Maika Hamano shot narrowly wide after a crisp move also involving Eve Perisset.

Two minutes later, Reiten’s sublime pass was heading for Niamh Charles until she was fouled by Jasmine Bull for a penalty which was converted by Reiten.

Chelsea goalkeeper Zecira Musovic denied Carrie Jones and Amalie Thestrup, before the Blues doubled their lead midway through the half when Nusken bundled home Reiten’s corner after the visitors failed to clear.

Beever-Jones was narrowly wide with a spectacular bicycle kick just before the break – but the former Bristol City loanee got her reward seven minutes after the restart when she made it 3-0 after combining well with Erin Cuthbert.

Reiten found herself in acres of space and produced a sublime strike into the top corner to make it 4-0 in the 56th minute, before substitute Catarina Macario shot powerfully over.

Norwegian winger Reiten completed her hat-trick with 19 minutes remaining when she finished off Macario’s through-ball.

Hayes’ side got a sixth goal three minutes later when unmarked Charles drove Macario’s free-kick past goalkeeper Francesca Bentley.

Reiten made it 7-0 in the 77th minute, producing another sumptuous finish into the far corner.

The 29-year-old turned provider with two minutes remaining as Beever-Jones completed the scoring for Chelsea with a diving header.

The hosts almost had a ninth in added time, with Bentley saving well from substitute Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, before Reiten struck the crossbar.