Kerolin's hat-trick stole the show as Manchester City moved one step closer to the Women's Super League crown with a 5-1 thrashing of defending champions Chelsea.

Andree Jeglertz's side are closing in on their first league title since 2016 after Sunday's victory – their 13th consecutive in the competition – moved them 11 points clear at the summit.

City came flying out the blocks and edged into their 13th-minute lead when Kerstin Casparij's corner rolled out to Kerolin, whose half-volley beat Hannah Hampton via a slight deflection off Ellie Carpenter.

Keira Walsh responded by flashing a drive narrowly wide before Ayaka Yamashita tipped over a dipping Erin Cuthbert strike, only for Chelsea to be punished down the other end nine minutes before half-time.

Yui Hasegawa stole possession from Wieke Kaptein before Vivianne Miedema offloaded for Khadija Shaw, who coolly finished past Hampton for her 14th WSL goal this campaign.

Kerolin doubled her account with a ridiculous run over the halfway line before dinking over an onrushing Hampton in the 49th minute.

Her third, and Man City's fourth, goal arrived five minutes later when Lauren Hemp caught Carpenter out of position and squared across for Kerolin to complete her treble with a side-foot finish.

Kaptein then missed a glorious chance, but Alyssa Thompson made amends soon after, cutting inside international team-mate Sam Coffey and slamming into the bottom corner for a 68th-minute consolation.

But Miedema sealed a thumping victory just four minutes after, rising highest to glance a header into the far corner from Casparij's corner and end Chelsea's unbeaten away run in this season's WSL.

FIVE-STAR CITY

5-1 @okx pic.twitter.com/RGW6Q5VDjF

— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) February 1, 2026

Data Debrief: Killer finish from Kerolin

This victory leaves Man City 12 points clear of Chelsea, the furthest from the top the Blues have been in the WSL since the final day of the 2018-19 season (12 behind Arsenal in third).

Shaw's strike put City in complete control, with her 14 goals already more than the two WSL top scorers netted in the whole of last season (Shaw herself and Alessia Russo – 12).

But the contest belonged to Brazilian winger Kerolin, whose double means she has now either scored or assisted in each of her last six WSL appearances (six goals and three assists).

It was a one-sided contest at the Etihad Stadium, largely thansk to Kerolin's brilliance, as City accumulated a massive 3.80 expected goals (xG) to Chelsea's measly 0.89.