WSL: Chelsea 4-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Melanie Leupolz double in Blues win

A spectacular long-range strike from Melanie Leupolz helped Chelsea stretch their lead at the top of the WSL with a comfortable victory over Spurs.

Spurs conceded again two minutes later when Abbie McManus diverted Pernille Harder’s shot into her own goal.

Sam Kerr’s header made it three before the break and Leupolz grabbed her second with a 63rd-minute penalty.

Chelsea went into the game fresh from setting a new WSL record of 32 games unbeaten but were given an early scare by their London rivals.

Shelina Zadorsky sent a left-footed shot narrowly over the bar and the visitors went closer still when Ria Percival’s driven effort struck the post.

After Kit Graham had also tested Ann-Katrin Berger in the Chelsea goal, the leaders sprang into life, creating good openings for Harder and Fran Kirby.

They then went ahead in style when Leupolz collected a Ji So-yun pass before driving forward and unleashing a long-range effort to which Mikalsen had no answer.

After their bright start Spurs soon found themselves two down when Mikalsen’s loose pass was seized upon by Kirby, who crossed for Harder and the Dane’s shot deflected in off McManus.

Chelsea made the game safe when they broke quickly and Harder was afforded too much space to pick out the unmarked Kerr, who nodded in after 38 minutes.

Harder almost grabbed the fourth early in the second period, only for her sweetly struck volley to be headed off the line by Percival.

But they did not have to wait much longer to add to their tally as substitute Beth England won a penalty minutes after joining the action when her cross struck Kerys Harrop’s arm, allowing Leupolz to finish for her second.