As we get near the top of our list of the best WSL games from last season, we take a look at a dramatic game at the Madejski Stadium.
With the WSL season brought to an end as a result of COVID-19, we at Her Football Hub are counting down the top 10 games from the WSL season. At number four is Reading 3-3 Bristol City from November 17.
A valiant fightback from the Vixens gave an early indication to the amount of resilience they would have last season.
Reading’s early lead
As so many of these games go, one team raced out to a lead. Reading went 2-0 up in the first 20 minutes against Bristol City, with Remi Allen and Brooke Chaplen scoring goals for the Royals.
Allen scored with the calmest of finishes, keeping her cool when she got behind the back four. An oncoming Sophie Baggaley couldn’t deter Allen from putting the ball in the back of the net.
Embed from Getty ImagesLess than a minute Chaplen outpaced Wales international Gemma Evans to get in behind for the second.
She rounded Baggaley and squeezed her finish between two defenders rushing back.
Charlie Wellings got City back into the game just before half-time with the pick of the first-half goals. A fantastic turn on the edge of the area coupled with a scintillating finish gave the Vixens a lifeline heading into the second 45.
That lifeline was seemingly gone straight after the break. Angharad James nodded in from a Fara Williams corner within two minutes of the restart.
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Tanya Oxtoby’s Bristol City side weren’t going down without a fight. Two minutes later they were back in it again.
An unorthodox finish from Yana Daniëls restored the faith in the City team. Ebony Salmon broke the defensive line and found Daniëls on the edge of the six-yard box. The ball bounced off Belgian forward and into the back of the net.
Embed from Getty ImagesSalmon found herself on the scoring side of things for the equaliser. The goals came after half an hour of back-and-fourth play, with Sophie Baggaley keeping the Vixens in it on multiple occasions.
Salmon showed her pure talent for her goal, from first touch, to ball control and then finally the finish. She proved that she is one of the best young talents in the league.
This game deserves the plaudits for being one of the best WSL games of the season. On the same day that Arsenal and Spurs played in front of a record crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Everton beat Liverpool at Anfield, it was by far the most entertaining match.
You can watch the full 90 minutes from the Madejski via the Bristol City YouTube channel.
Our 2019/20 Best WSL Games List so far:
10. Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal, October 13, 2019.
9. Manchester United 0-1 Bristol City, January 5, 2020.
8. West Ham 3-2 Manchester United, December 1, 2019.
7. Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United, September 7, 2019.
6. Liverpool 2-3 Arsenal, February 13, 2020.
5. West Ham 2-3 Reading, November 24, 2019.
4. Reading 3-3 Bristol City, November 17, 2019.
