READING FC WOMEN’s hopes of reaching Wembley were dashed after they were eliminated by FA Women’s Cup holders Chelsea in the quarter-finals.
The Royals will now have full focus on trying to retain their top flight status with seven matches to go in the Women’s Super League.
Having knocked out Tottenham Hotspur in the last round in a penalty shootout, Reading were looking to upset the odds and prevent the Blues from retaining the cup.
Reading knew they would have a tricky test on their hands to try and overcome Emma Hayes’ side, who are looking to complete a league and cup double for the second consecutive season.
The hosts’ task was made even harder when they went a goal behind in the 23rd minute after failing to track Jess Carter’s run to the back post.
A floated cross into the box from Guro Reiten rose over four Reading shirts and found Carter all alone at the back post and took advantage by stroking the ball into the far corner past Grace Moloney on the volley.
Just three minutes later, Reading shot themselves in the foot when Brooke Hendrix conceded a penalty to give the visitors the chance to double their tally.
Emma Mukandi’s back pass to Hendrix put the Royals in trouble as Reiten showed more endeavour to get to the loose ball, knocked the ball past the goalkeeper and was brought down by the American with the goal gaping.
The Royals defender escaped being sent off by the referee much to the relief of the Reading players and fans with the official taking the lenient view to only show her a caution.
Maren Mjelde took the penalty and dispatched it neatly into the bottom corner to put the Blues into a commanding position in the cup tie.
Reading thought they had come up with a quick response in the 29th minute when Sanne Troelsgaard had the ball in the net, only to be denied by the offside flag.
After a lofted ball into the area from, a brilliant knock down fell into the path of Troelsgaard who snuck in behind the Blues backline to fire the ball into the roof of the net.
However, Reading’s celebrations were cut short after a few moments of deliberation with a late decision from the officials who eventually raised the flag to deem it offside.
With a mountain to climb in the second-half to try and get back into the game, Reading’s hopes were all but put to bed six minutes after the restart when Chelsea netted their third of the game.
It was a slick team move that unlocked the Reading defence as Johanna Rytting Kaneryd played an expertly weighted through ball to Alsu Abdullina who unselfishly slid the ball across for Reiten to have the easiest of finishes to tap into the empty net.
Reading rallied to get on the scoresheet when Troelsgaard continued her superb scoring season when she received the ball in the box, spun past Millie Bright and released an emphatic finish into the far corner to beat Zecira Musovic.
It proved to just be a consolation goal from the Norwegian midfielder as the Royals exited the competition at the quarter-final stage.
Next up for the Royals is a huge encounter in the WSL up against fellow relegation battlers Brighton & Hove Albion.
Reading: Moloney, Mayi Kith, Hendrix, Mukandi (c), Bryson, Woodham, Moore, Rowe, EIkeland, Troelsgaard, Wellings
Subs: Evans, Wade, Caldwell, Jane, Burns, Vanhaevermaet, Meadows-Tuson
Chelsea: Musovic, Carter, Bright, Eriksson, Rytting Kaneryd, Mjelde, Fleming, Ingle, Abdullina, Reiten, Charles
Subs: :Leupolz, James, Kerr, Buchanan, Berger, Claypole, Akpan, Blades, Brown
Goals: Carter 23’, Mjedle 26’ (pen), Reiten 51’, Troelsgaard 70’
