Spurs took the lead with just 15 seconds on the clock, but Matsukubo levelled on eight minutes and Lola Brown struck twice before half-time to put the Blues in control.

Matsukubo added two more after the break, completing her hat-trick with a superb volley on 70 minutes.

First-team players Brown, Nelly Las, Chloe Sarwie and Matsukubo were all involved for Leanne Champ’s side. It was Brown’s third appearance for the Under-18s, while Las, Sarwie and Matsukubo each made their second appearance for the team this season.

Blues recover from early setback

Spurs went ahead straight from kick-off. A long ball forward was not cleared by the Chelsea defence and midfield, and Nife Aramide collected on the edge of the area before finding the bottom corner.

The early lead did not last long. Matsukubo was unable to convert at the end of a Rebekah Pierce cross, but Keira Johnson (pictured top) quickly won the ball back on the edge of the area and slid it through for Matsukubo, who calmly placed her finish past the onrushing Sophie Jackson.

A rapid counter-attack put Chelsea ahead before the half-hour mark. Matsukubo cleared the ball from our own box and Chelsea N’Drin recovered it, allowing Brown to drive forward into the Spurs half. A well-timed one-two with Matsukubo took Brown into the box, where she cut onto her left foot and finished at the near post.

Brown added a third as half-time approached. She pressed a Spurs goal-kick aggressively, intercepted a pass from the goalkeeper and quickly passed into a virtually empty net.

Matsukubo completes hat-trick

Champ made three changes at the break, with Elise Christian, Stevie Sinclair and Jahmya Putman replacing Gabi Storey, Johnson and N’Drin. Sophie Leach came on for Sarwie on 61 minutes.

The Blues scored a fourth on 63 minutes. Matsukubo found Pierce out wide on the left, and as Pierce drove inside she laid the ball off to Matsukubo on the overlap. Matsukubo jinked past three Spurs defenders in the box and bent her shot into the far corner.

She saved the best for last seven minutes later. A headed clearance from a Chelsea corner fell to Matsukubo on the edge of the box, and she controlled it on her chest before chipping it past an onrushing defender, setting herself up for a left-footed volley into the far corner to make it 5-1.

What it means

Chelsea have started our Division 1 campaign with a strong win and sit second in the table, behind the leaders only on goal difference.

What’s next?

The Blues now have a two-week break before returning to Women’s National League Cup action on Sunday 1 November. We travel to Oxford United Women in the first knockout round, facing a side who are top of the third tier and unbeaten.

Team

Chelsea (3-4-3): Victoria Rudz; Gabi Storey (Elise Christian 45), Sadie Gregory, Chloe Sarwie (Sophie Leach 61); Nelly Las, Keira Johnson (Stevie Sinclair 45), Belle Sullivan, Rebekah Pierce; Manaka Matsukubo (Zoe Ciccardini 75), Lola Brown, Chelsea N’Drin (Jahmya Putman 45)
Scorers: Matsukubo 8, 63, 70, Brown 28, 40
Manager: Leanne Champ