Ibrahim Oladamola
Manchester City closed the gap on WSL frontrunners Man United after sweeping past Reading 4-1 thanks to goals from fearsome front three Chloe Kelly, Khadija Shaw and Lauren Hemp, as well as a sublime Steph Houghton free-kick.
City were forced to come behind after Sanne Troelsgaard fired the visitors into a shock lead with only two minutes on the clock, but Gareth Taylor’s side responded valiantly with four-goal haul of their own.
In-form Kelly was first to strike in the 15th minute, notching her sixth of the season, before Shaw converted Alex Greenwood’s pinpoint corner with a powerful header nine minutes later to establish a half-time lead.
The gloss was added by captain Houghton in the 70th minute, as she stroked an outstanding free-kick into the bottom corner of Grace Moloney’s net from 20 yards. As a result, City continue to pile pressure on league leaders Man United, who remain three points better off, while establishing a four-point buffer between themselves and third-placed Chelsea.
Reading, comparatively, are living dangerously and perilously close to slipping out of the top flight with only three games left to improve their standing at the foot of the table.
