Reading responded to last weekend’s heavy home defeat to Chelsea with an impressive 1-1 draw against Arsenal at The Madejski Stadium this afternoon.
The third-placed Gunners will be bitterly disappointed that they were unable to capitalise as the top two sides faced each other with Chelsea taking on Manchester United at Kingsmeadow.
Reading began the game with the physicality and intensity that was missing from their 5-0 defeat to Chelsea. The Royals’ efforts were rewarded as Anna Patten’s foul resulted in Emma Mitchell setting up Lauren Bruton with an out swinging free-kick with the number 10 tapping the ball home from close range after just five minutes.
At the other end, Arsenal forward Vivianne Miedema looked as dangerous as ever. Kim Little, with a delightful piece of skill, broke into the right side of the Reading box, cutting the ball back to the Dutch international on the penalty spot but Jess Fishlock rushed out to block and clear the shot.
Reading continued to display an array of passes with Fishlock dictating play. A delightful move, starting with goalkeeper Grace Moloney, set Natasha Harding free who ultimately mis-controlled the ball. The Royals continued to up their intensity with Fishlock playing Kristine Bjordal Leine through whose shot hit the side-netting.
Reading’s dominance was continually interrupted by Miedema. While the forward saw another shot blocked, she didn’t have to wait too much longer for her goal. Six minutes before the break, Moloney saved a Jill Roord header, directing the ball kindly to Miedema who tapped in the rebound.
In the second half, Kelly Chambers’ side continued to play with that intensity and physicality that she had demanded, forcing Arsenal into a series of mistakes which were fortunate not to cost them. In the 53rd minute, Fishlock played a long central ball to Harding who mis-controlled, yet poor communication in Arsenal’s defence led to Harding getting back onto the ball and forcing goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger into a sliding tackle to defuse the danger.
Throughout the game, Fishlock was controlling the tempo and two minutes later, she played Bruton through who beat the advancing Zinsberger but the ball was cleared off the line.
A Mitchell shot from outside of the box forced Zinsberger into action again before Moloney superbly denied Roord with a quick reaction save at the other end.
The game ended on a sour note as Reading defender Leine collided into teammate Moloney, an incident which forced the defender to be stretchered off. Reading will be hoping that the Norwegian international’s injury is not too serious. The stoppage in play disrupted the end of the match and took the sting out of Arsenal’s desperate late attacks.
It was a bad day at the office for Arsenal who wasted an opportunity to gain ground in the title race whilst Reading boss Chambers will have been delighted with her side’s response to that heavy defeat to Chelsea.
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