Chelsea’s hopes of retaining the Barclays FA Women’s Super League title have suffered a blow with The Blues slipping to a shock 1-0 defeat to Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium this afternoon.
Deanne Rose netted the only goal of the game after just four minutes as Reading stunned the champions with a hard-working and committed performance.
Reading broke the deadlock with the very first chance of the game. Rose played a nice one-two with Emma Harries before firing the ball beyond visiting keeper Zećira Mušović from close range.
Chelsea responded and Sam Kerr flashed a header narrowly wide across goal before a powerful Millie Bright strike was blocked on the line.
Beth England was next to go close, her shot beat Reading keeper Grace Moloney but Gemma Evans was there to block the ball on the line before she bravely slid in to deny Sam Kerr as the hosts retained their advantage going into the break.
Chelsea started the second half brightly and Magda Eriksson was inches away from levelling matters after connecting with a Guro Reiten cross. Reiten herself then went close, curling an effort narrowly wide of the far post.
Pernille Harder sent two headers off target before Reiten’s curling effort was comfortable for Moloney as Chelsea began to get desperate. The Reading keeper then claimed the ball from Kerr and Harder headers before Reiten’s deflected shot went high and wide as the game ended 1-0 to the hosts.
Both teams have midweek games with Reading travelling to Lewes in the FA Women’s Continental League Cup and Chelsea making the trip to Germany to face VfL Wolfsburg in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
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