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Last updated on 8 minutes ago.From the section Women's Football
Chloe Kelly scored for a second consecutive match and helped Manchester City to successive wins with a first-half goal against ReadingKhadija Shaw became the outright top scorer in the Women's Super League with her 18th goal of the season as Manchester City came from behind to rout Reading and keep up their pursuit of Manchester United in the title race.
City fell a goal behind when Sanne Troelsgaard curled a classy strike beyond returning goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck in the first minute, but the hosts were almost completely dominant after their surprise early setback.
Chloe Kelly pounced to fire in a 15th-minute equaliser after the persistently threatening Shaw had caused uncertainty inside Reading's penalty area, and the Jamaica striker doubled the lead within 10 minutes by powerfully heading in Alex Greenwood's corner via Grace Moloney's gloves.
Lauren Hemp put City firmly on course to reduce United's lead to three points by sliding in Kelly's cross two minutes after the break, and captain Steph Houghton curled in a free-kick from a central position on the edge of the penalty area with 20 minutes remaining.
On a predictably busy afternoon for Moloney, City served 12 shots during the opening 33 minutes and were denied when the goalkeeper produced a fine save to deny Laura Coombs, with Hemp also blasting a shot over the crossbar as part of a procession of chances.
A game Reading side came close to equalising courtesy of a first-half blunder from Roebuck, who almost gifted Troelsgaard a second when the midfielder charged down her attempted clearance, only for the England international to redeem herself with a sharp stop.
The result keeps City in touch with United, who scored a last-gasp winner to secure victory at Aston Villa on Friday, and moves them four points above Chelsea, who have three games in hand.
Reading remain bottom and are two points behind Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City with three matches of their campaign left, having played a game more than both of the teams immediately above them.
Line-ups
Man City Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Roebuck
- 2Casparij
- 6Houghton
- 5GreenwoodSubstituted forOuahabiat 76'minutes
- 14Morgan
- 25HasegawaSubstituted forFowlerat 76'minutes
- 12Angeldahl
- 9Kelly
- 7CoombsSubstituted forCastellanosat 75'minutes
- 11HempSubstituted forRasoat 66'minutes
- 21Shaw
Substitutes
- 3Stokes
- 8Fowler
- 10Castellanos
- 13Raso
- 15Ouahabi
- 35Keating
- 42Dahou
Reading Women
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Moloney
- 9Eikeland
- 16Mayi Kith
- 17CaldwellBooked at 82mins
- 3Mukandi
- 12HarriesSubstituted forWadeat 73'minutes
- 27VanhaevermaetSubstituted forPerryat 87'minutes
- 23Rowe
- 7Wellings
- 51TroelsgaardSubstituted forHendrixat 87'minutes
- 37PrimmerBooked at 4minsSubstituted forMooreat 55'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Bryson
- 5Evans
- 11Wade
- 15Hendrix
- 18Jane
- 19Alexander
- 20Moore
- 30Poulter
- 34Perry
Referee:Amy Fearns
Attendance:3,102
Live Text
Match ends, Manchester City Women 4, Reading Women 1.
Second Half ends, Manchester City Women 4, Reading Women 1.
Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Brooke Hendrix.
Attempt blocked. Chloe Kelly (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mary Fowler.
Deyna Castellanos (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Amalie Eikeland (Reading Women).
Attempt missed. Khadija Shaw (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Filippa Angeldahl (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lauren Wade (Reading Women).
Substitution, Reading Women. Brooke Hendrix replaces Sanne Troelsgaard.
Substitution, Reading Women. Madison Perry replaces Justine Vanhaevermaet.
Attempt blocked. Chloe Kelly (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Deyna Castellanos.
Attempt missed. Filippa Angeldahl (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Mary Fowler.
Attempt missed. Filippa Angeldahl (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Chloe Kelly with a cross following a set piece situation.
Diane Caldwell (Reading Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Mary Fowler (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Diane Caldwell (Reading Women).
Hayley Raso (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Emma Mukandi (Reading Women).
Attempt missed. Mary Fowler (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Hayley Raso.
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