Chelsea survived a second half combat again from a gutsy Reading to make sure they completed 2022 high of the WSL after a 3-2 victory at a snowy Kingsmeadow on Sunday.
A Fran Kirby aim and a Jelana Cankovic brace had given the Blues a cushty 3-0 lead on the break, just for Reading to attain twice within the area of two second half minutes by means of Sanne Troelsgaard Nielsen and Amalie Eikeland to arrange a grandstand end.
A fairytale equaliser couldn’t be discovered, however Kelly Chambers’ facet had a lot to be happy with regardless of in the end leaving west London empty handed.
Reading went toe to toe with Chelsea in a aggressive opening quarter of an hour. Gemma Evans popped up with a aim line block to disclaim Cankovic as the WSL’s third from backside facet held agency, whereas carrying a risk on the counter assault.
However, the impasse was damaged after 16 minutes following a sensible little bit of pondering from Cankovic, as she fed Johanna Rytting Kaneryd with a shortly taken free kick. The ball was squared to, Kirby who coolly completed. Reading have been left aggrieved as replays confirmed Rytting Kaneryd to be offside within the construct up.
Rytting Kaneryd was once more concerned as Chelsea doubled their lead simply earlier than the half hour mark. Her fizzing effort cannoned off the cross bar, Reading did not clear and Cankovic reacted quickest to fireside dwelling.
The Blues added a 3rd 4 minutes later, Sophie Ingle and Fran Kirby concerned in a flowing crew transfer, Erin Cuthbert offering a cross from the best and Cankovic wrapping up her fairly good first half by powering dwelling a header.
With Chelsea main 3-0 on the break, you feared the floodgates might open and it will be a case of harm limitation for Reading. The reverse occurred, and the Royals as an alternative launched into an unlikely comeback.
Reading pulled one again after an hour, Millie Bright turning the vigorous Emma Harries’s cross into the trail of Troelsgaard Nielsen, whose effort squirmed by means of the gloves of Ann-Katrin Berger.
Reading actually started to make Chelsea sweat as they netted a second only a minute later. Harries was once more within the coronary heart of the motion, getting the higher of Niamh Charles and feeding Eikeland, who poked dwelling. Game on, with half an hour left on the clock.
The dogged Royals threw every thing at Chelsea as they looked for what could be a outstanding equaliser, however the Blues managed to see the sport out to make sure they sit high of the pile heading into 2023.
GK: Ann-Katrin Berger – 5/10 – Allowed the ball to squirm underneath her physique for Reading’s first, having hardly had a save to make within the opening 45.
RB: Eve Perisset – 7/10 – Linked up rather well with Rytting Kaneryd, and the best flank was a continuing supply of hazard for Chelsea.
CB: Millie Bright – 6/10 – Stretched to make an necessary interception and preserve out a Harries cross within the first half. Her distribution and cross area passes have been distinctive. Fluffed a clearance which led to Reading’s second.
CB: Magdalena Eriksson – 6/10 – Back in a extra pure centre again function following a spell at left again. Saw the ball performed in behind herself and Charles for Reading’s first, struggling to deal with the tempo of Harries.
LB: Niamh Charles – 6/10 – A tireless efficiency – up and down the left flank, good and environment friendly in possession. Had a tricky time defensively within the second half, dropping out to Harries within the construct as much as Reading’s second.
CM: Sophie Ingle – 7/10 – Won the ball again within the construct as much as Chelsea’s second and third aim, springing the counter assault for the third.
CM: Erin Cuthbert – 7/10 – Provided the pinpoint cross for Chelsea’s third aim after combining nicely with Kirby. Sliced an effort from vary narrowly extensive late within the first half.
CM: Jelena Cankovic – 8/10 – Enjoyed a wonderful first half efficiency, taking the shortly taken free kick for her facet’s first, and on the scoresheet with a low drive and bullet header. Oozed confidence all through – not a nasty first WSL begin.
RW: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – 8/10 – Had a hand in Chelsea’s first and second aim, choosing out Kirby and cracking the publish with a fizzing drive.
ST: Bethany England – 6/10 – Put in an enormous shift up high, however unable to get on the scoresheet, being denied by an Evans block within the first half. Replaced with 20 minutes remaining.
LW: Fran Kirby – 8/10 – Opened the scoring in opposition to her former membership with a sensible end, concerned within the third after linking up with Cuthbert.
SUB: Jess Carter (67′ for Charles) – 6/10
SUB: Sam Kerr (70′ for England) – 6/10
SUB: Jessie Fleming (70′ for Cankovic) – 6/10
SUB: Guro Reiten (81′ for Rytting Kaneryd) – 6/10
GK: Jackie Burns – 6/10 – Claimed a few doubtlessly harmful crosses, and could not do an awesome deal about any of Chelsea’s objectives.
RB: Faye Bryson – 5/10 – Had a little bit of a tricky time of it in opposition to the relentless Kirby and Charles.
CB: Deanne Cooper – 6/10 – Made a heroic diving block to maintain out a second half Cuthbert effort. A full blooded efficiency in opposition to her former membership.
CB: Gemma Evans – 6/10 – In the thick of the motion: made an outstanding aim line block to maintain out Cankovic within the early exchanges, however did not clear her strains for Chelsea’s second, earlier than making one other courageous block to disclaim England.
LB: Lily Woodham – 6/10 – Struggled to deal with Chelsea’s harmful proper flank of Perisset and Rytting Kaneryd at occasions within the first half, however dug in and was significantly extra resolute within the second as Reading actually annoyed the Blues.
DM: Justine Vanhaevermaet – 7/10 – Saw a sweetly struck effort fly narrowly over within the first half. Broke up play successfully.
CM: Tia Primmer – 5/10 – Failed to clear her strains within the construct as much as Chelsea’s second. A tenacious efficiency in opposition to Chelsea’s dynamic midfield three. Forced off with harm earlier than the hour mark.
CM: Sanne Troelsgaard Nielsen – 7/10 – Netted her facet’s first, reacting quickest to the unfastened ball and seeing her effort squirm underneath Berger.
CM: Amalie Eikeland – 7/10 – Timed her run to perfection to linger on the sting of the field and poke dwelling her facet’s second. An actual supply of hazard all through, driving her crew ahead.
ST: Lauren Wade – 6/10 – A relentless shift up entrance as Reading’s entrance two requested loads of questions of the Chelsea backline. Replaced with quarter-hour remaining.
ST: Emma Harries – 8/10 – Carried a risk on the break and instrumental in Reading’s first and second aim with a burst down the best flank and low supply.
SUB: Rachel Rowe (57′ for Primmer) – 7/10
SUB: Emma Mukandi (67′ for Bryson) – 6/10
SUB: Charlie Wellings (75′ for Wade) – 6/10