REPUBLIC OF IRELAND goalkeeper Grace Moloney played a starring role and kept a clean sheet as her Reading side recorded their first-ever Women’s Super League [WSL] win over Chelsea.
The 2020/21 champions had scored in 59 consecutive WSL games before today, but the Royals stunned them with a 1-0 win at the Madejski Stadium.
Deanne Rose’s fourth-minute goal was decisive, as Reading produced a stunning defensive performance to shut Emma Hayes’ high-flying Blues out.
Moloney was excellent throughout, extinguishing all threats from Sam Kerr and co.
The win moves Reading to fifth in the English top-flight, while Chelsea stay second, a point behind Arsenal, who they beat in the 2020/21 FA Cup final last Sunday.
A view of the top of the WSL table:
Today was Chelsea’s third game in six days, after they drew 0-0 with Barcelona in the Champions League midweek.
It was the only Saturday fixture in the WSL. The Gunners — home of Ireland captain Katie McCabe — face Leicester City tomorrow evening, with a host of other Girls In Green internationals in action in the league on Sunday.
Tomorrow’s WSL fixtures
- Brighton & Hove Albion (Megan Connolly) v Manchester United, 12.30pm
- Everton (Courtney Brosnan) v West Ham United, 1pm
- Birmingham City (Louise Quinn, Lucy Quinn, Jamie Finn, Hariet Scott, Emily Whelan, Eleanor Ryan Doyle, Marie Hourihan) v Manchester City, 2pm
- Aston Villa (Ruesha Littlejohn) v Tottenham Hotspur, 6pm
- Arsenal (Katie McCabe) v Leicester City, 6.45pm.
