Kerolin Hat-Trick Powers Manchester City Past Chelsea

Manchester City Women sent shockwaves through the Barclays Women’s Super League on February 1, 2026, with a dazzling 5-1 demolition of reigning champions Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium. It was a performance that not only extended City’s winning streak to 13 league matches but also pushed them a commanding 12 points clear at the top of the table, with only Manchester United—11 points adrift—still within distant reach. For a match billed as one of the season’s most anticipated, City delivered a thunderous statement that will surely echo through the title race.

Kerolin was the undoubted star of the show, becoming the first player ever to net a hat-trick against the reigning WSL champions. Her goals were a masterclass in finishing, with the second—a cheeky dink over Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton—drawing gasps from the crowd and leaving even neutrals in awe. "A scooped finish over one of the world’s best goalkeepers? Who else but City’s own brilliant Brazilian," marveled one observer, summing up the magic on display.

The match began with City pressing high and forcing Chelsea into mistakes early. It took only 13 minutes for the breakthrough: Kerolin’s deflected effort, following a corner, squeezed past Hampton to put City ahead. Chelsea, who entered the match with the league’s stingiest defense, looked rattled but responded strongly. Wieke Kaptein had the ball in the net for the visitors, only for the offside flag to halt their celebrations. The next 15 minutes saw Chelsea pushing hard, with Sandy Baltimore, Keira Walsh, and Erin Cuthbert all going close, but City’s defense, marshaled by captain Alex Greenwood, held firm.

City’s second goal came after Chelsea surrendered possession inside their own half. Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw muscled past Naomi Girma, latched onto Vivianne Miedema’s incisive pass, and lashed the ball into the ground and over Hampton. The Etihad roared as City doubled their lead, and the home side went into halftime brimming with confidence despite Chelsea’s 57% possession and six shots to City’s four.

If Chelsea hoped to mount a second-half comeback, those dreams evaporated quickly. Lauren Hemp, whose tireless industry typified City’s approach, released Kerolin on the counter. The Brazilian, brimming with confidence, chipped Hampton for her second and City’s third. The fourth goal arrived before the hour mark, with Hemp again the provider. She squared for Kerolin, who slotted home to complete her historic hat-trick. Not only did this make her the first player to score a treble against the reigning WSL champions, but it also marked her tenth goal involvement in just eight games this season—a remarkable run by any standard.

Chelsea, under new manager Sonia Bompastor, were left searching for answers. They nearly pulled one back when Kaptein capitalized on a slip from Laura Blindkilde Brown, only to fire over the bar with the goal gaping. Eventually, Chelsea found a consolation through Alyssa Thompson, who worked space on the edge of the area and found the bottom corner with a precise finish, giving the traveling fans something to cheer with around 25 minutes left.

Any fears of a Chelsea resurgence were quickly quashed. Vivianne Miedema, ever the poacher, flicked home a near-post corner from Kerstin Casparij to restore City’s four-goal cushion. The fifth goal capped a devastating display and left Chelsea’s previously formidable defense in tatters. For a side that had conceded just 13 goals in 14 matches prior to this encounter, shipping five in one afternoon was a rude awakening.

City manager Andrée Jeglertz had spoken before the game about the importance of converting pressure into goals, referencing their recent League Cup semi-final against Chelsea where City failed to make their dominance count. This time, there was no such profligacy. "We came out and delivered," Jeglertz said post-match, visibly proud of his squad’s ruthlessness and composure on the big stage.

The afternoon also marked a significant milestone for Mary Fowler, who made her return from an ACL injury suffered in April 2025. Entering with 15 minutes to play, the Australian forward looked sharp and comfortable in a central attacking role, adding yet another weapon to City’s already formidable arsenal. "The icing on top of a phenomenal City cake," as one report aptly put it.

City’s starting XI featured Yamashita in goal, with Rose, Knaak, Greenwood (captain), Casparij, Blindkilde Brown, Hasegawa, Hemp, Kerolin, Miedema, and Shaw. Substitutions saw Ouahabi, Coffey, Fujino, Coombs, Clinton, and Fowler all feature, highlighting the depth and versatility at Jeglertz’s disposal. Chelsea’s lineup included Hampton; Carpenter, Bright (captain), Buurman, Cuthbert, James, Thompson, Girma, Baltimore, Kaptein, and Walsh, with changes throughout as Bompastor sought answers to City’s relentless attacking waves.

Elsewhere in the WSL, Manchester United cemented their second-place standing with a 3-1 win over Liverpool, Tottenham edged West Ham 2-1 in a match where Signe Gaupset was a constant threat, Brighton fell 1-2 to London City Lionesses, and Everton secured a rare home victory, defeating Aston Villa 2-1. The league table now shows City with 39 points from 14 games (13 wins, 1 loss), Manchester United on 28 points, Chelsea on 27, and Arsenal—who have a game in hand—on 26. Tottenham round out the top five with 26 points.

For West Ham, the day was marked by Viviane Asseyi’s 100th appearance for the club, a testament to her consistency and professionalism. "I would give everything to have more and more," Asseyi told BBC London, reflecting on her milestone with pride.

Looking ahead, City’s next test comes at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal on Sunday, February 8, 2026, with kickoff at 12:00 UK time. It’s a fixture that promises high stakes and even higher drama as the business end of the season approaches. With City in this kind of form, the rest of the WSL will be keeping a very close eye on the leaders—can anyone catch them?

For now, Manchester City Women have set the pace, delivered a statement, and left their rivals with plenty to ponder. The title race is far from over, but this was a performance that could define a season.