Quick-fire double earns Liverpool win over Reading

3 years ago 39

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Two quick-fire goals earned Liverpool a vital win against Women's Super League relegation rivals Reading.

Missy Bo Kearns scrambled in the opening goal in the 62nd minute, before Ceri Holland slammed in from close range three minutes later.

Victory moved Liverpool eight points above the WSL relegation places.

Reading have lost all seven of their away league games this season, and are four points above bottom club Leicester having played two matches more.

Kelly Chambers' side had come closest to scoring at Prenton Park, as they sought a first league away point in this campaign.

Emma Harries hit the crossbar early on and both teams had efforts cleared off the line, but neither found a breakthrough until the second half.

Emma Koivisto latched onto a looping cross from midfield and slid through for Kearns to slot into the bottom left-hand corner.

Megan Campbell's massive throw-in was then nodded on at the near post to set up a simple tap-in for Holland to claim Liverpool's second goal.

Reds pull clear of relegation trouble

The result meant Reading are now four points behind the Reds, who gained promotion from the Championship last season.

Reading had won their last three away league matches against Liverpool and almost took the lead when Harries struck the woodwork after meeting a lovely cross from captain Emma Mukandi.

Their primary goal threat this season has come from set-pieces - a WSL-low seven of their 14 league goals have been from open play - and it was from dead balls where they were again most dangerous here.

On 36 minutes they caused panic in the Liverpool area when Reds goalkeeper Rachael Laws failed to claim a floated cross and the the ball was eventually cleared off the line.

Liverpool themselves were denied in similar fashion after Holland's header beat visiting keeper Jacqueline Burns.

A frantic game seemed destined to end in a draw, which would satisfy neither side, until Matt Beard's side struck twice to seal back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

Line-ups

Liverpool Women

Formation 5-4-1

1Laws
2Koivisto
23Bonner
6Matthews
28Campbell
12Hinds
7KearnsSubstituted forTaylorat 86'minutes
11LawleySubstituted forDanielsat 75'minutes
8Nagano
18Holland
24StengelSubstituted forLundgaardat 90+1'minutes

Substitutes

3Robe
4Roberts
15Lundgaard
17Humphrey
20Daniels
21Cumings
22Kirby
34Silcock
35Taylor

Reading Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

25Burns
3Mukandi
14Cooper
5Evans
28Woodham
27Vanhaevermaet
20MooreSubstituted forPrimmerat 73'minutes
9Eikeland
51TroelsgaardSubstituted forAlexanderat 74'minutes
23Rowe
12HarriesSubstituted forWadeat 58'minutes

Substitutes

1Moloney
2Bryson
11Wade
15Hendrix
18Jane
19Alexander
30Poulter
37Primmer

Live Text

Match ends, Liverpool Women 2, Reading Women 0.
Second Half ends, Liverpool Women 2, Reading Women 0.
Substitution, Liverpool Women. Sofie Lundgaard replaces Katie Stengel.
Attempt missed. Lauren Wade (Reading Women) left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right misses to the left.
Corner, Reading Women. Conceded by Rachael Laws.
Corner, Reading Women. Conceded by Emma Koivisto.
Jacqueline Burns (Reading Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ceri Holland (Liverpool Women).
Substitution, Liverpool Women. Miriael Taylor replaces Missy Bo Kearns.
Offside, Reading Women. Amalie Eikeland tries a through ball, but Rachel Rowe is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Tia Primmer (Reading Women) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Amalie Eikeland.
Substitution, Liverpool Women. Yana Daniels replaces Melissa Lawley.
Tinaya Alexander (Reading Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Emma Koivisto (Liverpool Women).
Substitution, Reading Women. Tinaya Alexander replaces Sanne Troelsgaard.
Substitution, Reading Women. Tia Primmer replaces Jade Moore.
Attempt missed. Katie Stengel (Liverpool Women) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Megan Campbell.
Foul by Lauren Wade (Reading Women).
Megan Campbell (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Corner, Liverpool Women. Conceded by Gemma Evans.