Defeat In London For City's Women
First-half goals from Guro Reiten, Erin Cuthbert and a brace from Pernille Harder, accompanied with second-half strikes from England international Lauren James and Jelena Čanković handed Leicester a humbling defeat on a wet night in London.
There were three changes to the line-up that lost out to Arsenal last week, with notable absences for defenders Sophie Howard and Ashleigh Plumptre due to injury, along with Molly Pike, who were replaced by Jemma Purfield, Missy Goodwin and Remy Siemsen.
Striker Shannon O'Brien was also back in the City matchday squad for the first time this calendar year.
The deadlock was broken just seven minutes in by the hosts when Reiten slid in to turn Harder's cross goalwards. It was an unfortunate scenario for the Foxes as, after Courtney Nevin was beaten by the bouncing ball over the top, the cross from the Chelsea winger took a deflection which redirected it into the path of Reiten.
Before 20 minutes, Chelsea added a second when Leicester got robbed of possession in their own half, allowing the chance for Cuthbert to break through. Foxes goalkeeper Janina Leitzig came out quickly to close down the angles, but the midfielder was able to round the German to fire into an empty net.
Just after the half-hour, Chelsea took a three-goal advantage after skill from Lioness James allowed her entry into the Leicester box, before firing an effort towards the back post, which was tapped in by Harder, to net her third goal in a week.
Minutes later, the Foxes had their first sight of goal when Goodwin cut in from the left wing to try her luck from range. Cutting inside her marker, a powerful effort looked to trouble Ann-Katrin Berger if Jess Carter had not been on hand to block the attempt with a brave header.
Sadly for the Foxes, the game was put out of reach when the hosts added a fourth just before the interval when Harder scored her second of the afternoon, cutting in on her right foot and firing the ball low under Leitzig.
Eleven minutes from the restart, Chelsea added a fifth after James picked up the ball towards the corner flag, cut inside the box onto her favoured left foot and fired an effort past the Leicester 'keeper into the top left corner.
Deep into the second half, City saw their best chance of the game when a low cross from Goodwin landed onto the boot of Aileen Whelan, but unfortunately the captain's first-time effort towards the far corner was narrowly wide.
As the game drew to a close, one positive from the night for Leicester was the return of forward O'Brien, who made an appearance for Leicester for the first time in over four months, replacing Hannah Cain, to get 15 minutes under her belt ahead of two crucial WSL matches against West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion.
The home side finished off in style, adding a sixth in injury time when Čanković scored with virtually the last kick of the game, firing in a powerful effort into the roof of the net from inside the box, bringing an end to a disappointing night in the capital.
Major moment - Chelsea open the scoring
The hosts scored six on Wednesday evening, but an early opening goal from Guro Reiten sent the Blues on their way to three points.
Where do we stand - 11th in the WSL
Leicester remain 11th in the WSL with 13 points, two points ahead of bottom-placed Reading.
Coming up - West Ham United (H)
The Foxes head home next weekend for the final home game of the WSL season, when they welcome West Ham at King Power Stadium on Sunday afternoon (3pm BST kick-off).
The details…
City: Leitzig; Bott, Mace, Nevin, Purfield; Green (Robinson 64'), Whelan (C), Tierney, Goodwin; Cain (Pike 75'), Siemsen (O'Brien 75').
Subs not used: Lambourne, Levell, Reavill, Smith, C. Jones.