CATARINA MACARIO’S brace moved Chelsea a step closer to the Women’s Super League title as they beat Crystal Palace 4-0 at Kingsmeadow to push the visitors to the brink of relegation.

Sonia Bompastor’s side hold a six-point advantage over second-placed Arsenal and with only three games of the season remaining, a sixth consecutive crown could be sealed as early as next Wednesday’s game away to Manchester United.

Before that there is the matter of attempting to overturn a 4-1 deficit against Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Sunday, and to that end several first-team regulars were left on the bench, including Erin Cuthbert, Mayra Ramirez and Keira Walsh.