READING FC WOMEN lost out at champions Chelsea despite making a valiant second-half fightback.
After finding themselves three goals down at the break after a contentious Chelsea opener, the Royals came out fighting.
A quickfire double, which saw Sanne Troelsgaard and Amalie Eikeland score a minute apart to reduce the deficit put the pressure on the Women’s Super League leaders.
After a nervy ending, the Blues held on to collect three points in their ninth successive league win.
Kelly Chambers named an unchanged team for Reading’s tricky test at Chelsea after they picked up three points last weekend at home to Tottenham.
Despite coming into the contest as big underdogs against a Chelsea side that hasn’t lost at Kings Meadow since February 2021, Reading made a positive start.
Getting down the right with just a minute on the clock, the Royals threw a couple of crosses into the mix that were punched away by goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.
Having made a strong start, it was almost Chelsea who took the lead against the run of play, but Gemma Evans was percelt positioned to block Jelena Cankovic’s powerful shot off the line.
Reading continued to show signs of life in attack when Emma Harries, wearing the captain’s armband for the second successive game, drove at the Chelsea defence before she won a corner.
The resulting set piece led to a half chance for Tia Primmer who hit a looping shot that landed harmlessly over the top.
With 14 minutes on the clock, Reading were hit by a suckerpunch by former academy player Fran Kirby, who once again scored against her former club.
Reading were caught cold by a quickly taken free kick which saw Johanna Rytting Kaneryd roll the ball to Kirby who provided the finish.
But the replays showed that the initial pass through to Kaneryd should have been flagged for offside, leaving Reading frustrated by the lapse in judgement from the officials.
Chambers’ team linked in attack to try and come up with a response but Millie Bright edged Lauren Wade to the ball after Harries’ inviting cross.
Reading were rocked by the opening goal as the Blues found their confidence and found a clinical streak to add to their advantage.
After Kaneryd was denied by the inside of the post, Cankovic was on hand to tap the ball in from close range to double the lead.
It wasn’t long before Chelsea found their third and Cankovic had her second.
She met Erin Cuthbert’s pinpoint cross with a late charge into the box and glanced a header in off the post.
Another half chance was presented to Reading when the ball fell for Justine Vanhaevermaet to strike a fierce effort that fizzed just over the target.
Deanna Cooper picked up the first booking of the night when she tripped Niamh Charles who was threatening to charge into the box.
Cooper then put her body on the line to prevent Chelsea getting a fourth when she headed Cuthbert’s goalbound shot over the top for a corner.
Chambers made a change just before the hour mark when Primmer took a knock and had to be replaced by Rachel Rowe.
With an hour gone, Reading reduced the deficit and Sanne Troeslgaard continued her scoring run.
She broke into the box, moved past a defender and hit a low drive that squirmed under the keeper
In an incredible turn of events, Reading struck again just a minute later when Amalie Eikeland got onto the end of Harries’ cut back and squeezed the ball in at the near post.
After conceding two quickfire goals, the visitors continued to apply the pressure in what was a nervy end to the game for the hosts.
Pushing to find a leveller to complete a dramatic turnaround, Charlie Wellings replaced Wade for the final 15 minutes.
However, Chelsea were able to hold out and take the points after what was an incredible second-half display from the Royals.
Chelsea: Berger, Perisset, Bright, Eriksson, Charles, Cankovic, Ingle, Cuthbert, Kaneryd, England, Kirby
Subs: Musovic, Nouwen, Carter, James, Reiten, Fleming, Kerr, Buchanan, Abdullina
Reading: Burns, Bryson, Cooper, Evans, Woodham, Vanhaevermaet, Troelsgaard, Primmer, Eiekland, Harries, Wade
Subs: Moloney, Poulter, Mukandi, Wellings, Dowie, Hendrix, Caldwell, Jane, Dowie
Goals: Kirby 14’, Cankovic 28; 33’, Troelsgaard 60’, Eikeland 61’
