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.

Not that they were missed against a Palace side who played most of the second half with 10 players following Allyson Swaby’s red card and are now just one defeat away from making an immediate return to the Championship after a 14th loss in 19 games.

A Guro Reiten penalty midway through the first half followed by Macario’s fine finish into the corner took the fight from Palace before half-time, then a deflected Macario free-kick and a near-post tap-in from Mia Fishel ensured it was another miserable away outing for Leif Smerud’s side.

For unbeaten Chelsea – whose captain Millie Bright was making her 200th WSL appearance, just seven short of the record held by Aston Villa’s Jordan Nobbs – another title could be just a week away.

They dominated the opening exchanges and duly took the lead after 22 minutes.

Palace defender Molly-Mae Sharpe lifted an arm towards Reiten’s cross and handled leaving the referee little option but to award a penalty. From the spot Reiten was fortunate to see her kick squeeze through the hands of Shae Yanez and in.

The goal shook Palace and before they had caught their breath it was 2-0. Sandy Baltimore fed the ball into Macario whose run had not been picked up. She took a touch to come inside the box and make space before driving low into the bottom corner past Yanez.

Baltimore then almost made it three with a cross that outfoxed the goalkeeper and span against the crossbar before Naomi Girma was inches from her first Chelsea goal with a snapshot from 12 yards that was deflected wide.

Macario made it 3-0 at the start of the second half with a deflected free-kick moments after Swaby had been dismissed for bringing down Sjoeke Nusken near the halfway line.

Palace’s task had long looked insurmountable and there was to be no letting up from the leaders who went 4-0 up when Fishel turned Lucy Bronze’s header in at the near post.