Reading Women completed an unbelievable turnaround with three goals in seven minutes snatching all three points after they had been reduced to 10 players at the end of the first half.
Kristine Leine ignited the comeback in the 75th minute before Brooke Chaplen equalised just moments later. Jade Moore converted from a corner in the 82nd minute to cap off a brilliant Royals second half and earn three points from an unlikely situation.
Reading were punished early in the match after Grace Moloney picked up a pass back from a teammate, leaving West Ham with an indirect free kick inside the Royals box.
They took full advantage as Katharina Baunach fired the ball into the top corner past the keeper after the ball was rolled into her path to give West Ham a fourth minute lead.
Reading’s half went from bad to worst right at the end of the first 45 minutes as Rachel Rowe reacted badly after she was fouled by pushing a two West Ham players and was adjudged to have committed violent conduct and was shown a straight red card.
Fara Williams came agonisingly close to bringing the visitors level as her curled free kick beat the wall and the keeper, but she was denied by the post.
The hosts then doubled their lead in the 65th minute as they looked to have taken the initiative in the tie as Leanne Kiernan poked home after a scramble in the six yard box.
But the Royals were far from beaten as they clawed a goal back with 15 minutes left in the match as Leine finished fired the ball into the roof of the net from close range to give Kelly Chambers’ side hope.
Just moments after getting back into the contest, Reading found themselves on terms as Williams sent a brilliant through ball into the path of Chaplen who raced into the West Ham box and found the bottom corner.
Having shown superb spirit throughout the second half, Sophie Howard unleashed a stunning effort from 25 yards out which cannoned off the crossbar as the visitors searched to find an unlikely three points.
But Reading continued to fight and they found their reward in the 82nd minute as the most unlikely of comebacks was complete when Jade Moore turned the ball over the line from close range after the Hammers failed to clear from a corner.
Williams was again denied by the crossbar as her free kick was tipped onto the woodwork late in the game, but the Royals would not be denied from taking all three points as their sensational second half performance was rewarded.
Reading move up a place into sixth in the FA Women’s Super League, with a game in hand still to play on all of the teams above them in the division. Royals Women are back in action on Friday evening with an away league fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion Women.
