Defending champions Chelsea scored six second-half goals as they thrashed newcomers Crystal Palace 7-0 to underline their strength and dominance in the Women's Super League.

After slumping to a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in their opening game last weekend, Palace looked reasonably comfortable defending in the early stages.

But Chelsea, who beat Aston Villa 2-0 in their first league game, broke their resistance with an Aggie Beever-Jones goal in the 38th minute.

It then fell apart after the break for the Eagles with Chelsea fullback Lucy Bronze, who signed in the off-season after her contract at Barcelona expired, making it two in the 48th minute with a perfectly placed rising strike.

It only got worse from there for the home side.

Lauren James added the third before the hour mark with a close-range finish, while Norwegian winger and international Guro Reiten and defender Nathalie Bjorn then added two more in the space of a few minutes.

Reiten helped herself to another goal in the 90th minute to make it 6-0, and Catarina Macario completed the rout with a stoppage-time goal to send the Blues top with a perfect six points after two games.

Chelsea are three ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion, who travel to Manchester City on Sunday.

Things are already looking ominous for Palace, who are bottom of the 12-team table with no goals scored and 11 conceded after their first two top-flight games.