Everton stun Reading with second-half comeback

3 years ago 35

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Nicoline Sorensen of Everton celebrates scoring her teams third goal with team mates during the FA Women's Super League match at Reading

Nicoline Sorensen scored a brilliant winner as Everton came from two goals down to add to Reading's relegation worries in the Women's Super League.

The winger curled a stunning shot into the far top corner in the 83rd minute.

Reading had made the perfect start and raced into a 2-0 lead after 17 minutes with two Justine Vanhaevermaet goals.

Hanna Bennison pulled one back for Everton before the break and Katja Snoeijs equalised from the penalty spot before Sorensen's late strike.

Relegation worries mount as Reading let lead slip

Reading went ahead after Charlie Wellings was brought down in the box after only 52 seconds, and Vanhaevermaet calmly dispatched the penalty.

And after Sanne Troelsgaard robbed Megan Finnigan inside the Everton box, the Belgium midfielder was left unmarked to tap in her second.

Kelly Chambers' team were dominant, showing the fight they need in a relegation scrap, while Everton looked every bit a comfortable mid-table side cruising towards the end of a season.

That all changed after a break in play allowed boss Brian Sorensen to speak to his team, and whatever was said did the trick as Everton took control from that point on.

Four minutes before the interval, skipper Lucy Hope was sent clear down the left and cut the ball back for Bennison to finish, before Everton laid siege to the Reading goal in the second half.

Hanna Bennison of Everton scores her teams first goal during the FA Women's Super League match at Reading

Hope was at the forefront for the Toffees, but passed up two good opportunities.

Referee Louise Saunders then awarded the second spot-kick of the game for Diane Caldwell's challenge on Jess Park - much to Reading's disbelief - and Snoeijs converted to level the scores with nearly half an hour remaining.

Snoeijs, who scored twice in Everton's midweek defeat at Brighton, then went close with a shot on the turn but was denied by a fine reaction stop from Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney.

Reading were hanging on and Everton's pressure finally told thanks to Sorensen's moment of magic, collecting the ball on the right wing and driving into the box to bend an unstoppable shot past Moloney.

Wellings came close to levelling for the hosts midway through the 10 minutes of stoppage time, but her lobbed effort drifted wide and, with four games remaining, Reading remain 11th, only a point above the WSL relegation place.

Relive Reading v Everton and all of Sunday's WSL action

Line-ups

Reading Women

Formation 4-4-2

1Moloney
9Eikeland
16Mayi KithSubstituted forHendrixat 73'minutes
17Caldwell
3Mukandi
12Harries
27Vanhaevermaet
23RoweBooked at 45mins
7Wellings
51TroelsgaardSubstituted forPerryat 86'minutes
37PrimmerSubstituted forBrysonat 60'minutes

Substitutes

2Bryson
5Evans
11Wade
15Hendrix
18Jane
19Alexander
30Poulter
34Perry

Everton Women

Formation 4-3-3

18Brosnan
17Hope
20Finnigan
5Björn
27StenevikSubstituted forSeveckeat 45'minutes
28HolmgaardSubstituted forGalliat 74'minutes
7Wheeler
10BennisonSubstituted forHolmgaardat 90+9'minutes
14Sørensen
25SnoeijsSubstituted forChristiansenat 88'minutes
11ParkSubstituted forBeever-Jonesat 74'minutes

Substitutes

4Sevecke
8Christiansen
12Ramsey
15Beever-Jones
21Maier
22Galli
23Holmgaard

Live Text

Match ends, Reading Women 2, Everton Women 3.
Second Half ends, Reading Women 2, Everton Women 3.
Substitution, Everton Women. Sara Holmgaard replaces Hanna Bennison.
Offside, Reading Women. Emma Harries tries a through ball, but Madison Perry is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Charlie Wellings (Reading Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Brooke Hendrix with a headed pass.
Foul by Nicoline Sørensen (Everton Women).
Emma Harries (Reading Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Everton Women. Clare Wheeler tries a through ball, but Agnes Beever-Jones is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Amalie Eikeland (Reading Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
Corner, Reading Women. Conceded by Courtney Brosnan.
Lucy Hope (Everton Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Madison Perry (Reading Women).
Substitution, Everton Women. Izzy Christiansen replaces Katja Snoeijs because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Katja Snoeijs (Everton Women).
Katja Snoeijs (Everton Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Brooke Hendrix (Reading Women).
Substitution, Reading Women. Madison Perry replaces Sanne Troelsgaard.
Offside, Everton Women. Aurora Galli tries a through ball, but Agnes Beever-Jones is caught offside.
Goal! Reading Women 2, Everton Women 3. Nicoline Sørensen (Everton Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Aurora Galli.