Reading 0-0 Tottenham Women: Spurs snap losing streak with scoreless draw

Tottenham Hotspur Women traveled to the Madejski Stadium to face Reading Women in a match that was postponed from earlier in the season. Spurs were hoping to snap a four match losing streak. And that’s exactly what they did, though not in the way they wanted. Despite a ton of counters and a flurry of late chances, Spurs couldn’t find a way past Reading’s keeper. But then again, Reading couldn’t score either. The final score was a fairly entertaining 0-0 draw.

Rosella Ayane again started up top alongside Angela Addison. Interestingly, Kit Graham started on the bench, with Josie Green coming in as her replacement. Otherwise the lineup was the same as the one that lost 2-0 at Brighton last weekend.

Here’s the lineup.

Key Moments

First Half

3’ — First shot of the match goes to Alanna Kennedy, but her effort from the top of the box is low and straight at Reading keeper Moloney.

9’ — Jess Fishlock with Reading’s first sniff at goal, but it takes a deflection and is gathered by Mikalsen.

20’ — Ria Percival takes Spurs’ first corner and it’s a good one — Moloney could only get a hand on it but Spurs couldn’t bundle the ball into the net.

36’ — If it feels like there aren’t many key moments this half, it’s because not much has actually happened. Lots of possession, lots of high press, very little in way of chances or shots.

39’ — Two consecutive Reading corners are headed away by Abbie McManus. Spurs’ defense has been solid this half.

43’ — Ooooh, Reading very close to going ahead on a counter. Jess Fishlock got ahead of the defense and plonked a ball off the post, allowing Spurs to scramble it away. Tottenham VERY lucky to not be down a goal.

HALFTIME: Tottenham exceptionally fortunate not to be down a goal, but otherwise it’s been very even between these two sides. Even isn’t good enough, though — Spurs have to find a way to score in the second half.

Second Half

46’ — Reading start off the half with a decent chance, but Eikeland drags her shot wide.

50’ — Nearly! Off a counter, Ayane gets the ball wide and puts in a lovely cross to the back post for Addison, but Angela can’t hit it cleanly and the chance goes begging. That was it.

54’ — A lot just happened there in about 15 seconds. First, Reading have a penalty appeal denied by the ref after some (minimal) contact in the box. Spurs hit back immediately on a counter, and Ayane has a shot from close range saved by Moloney. Easily Tottenham’s best chance of the match.

60’ — Good save, Aurora Mikalsen! Reading with some good work in and around the box and get a shot away from close range but Aurora goes low to block the attempt with her legs.

65’ — Double sub for Spurs, Lucy Quinn and Kit Graham are on for Josie Green and Ria Percival.

67’ — Another good chance from Spurs after some bad Reading defending. Ayane with a ball into the box but Gemma Davison somehow can’t poke it past Moloney. Drat.

74’ — Sub for Spurs — Rachel Williams is on as a second striker for Gemma Davison. Looks like Spurs are running the dang 4-4-2.

82’ — Another good chance for Spurs — Lucy Quinn whips in a good cross to Rachel Williams, but Rachel can’t get it past the keeper.

83’ — Alanna Kennedy with a header on target but Moloney makes a HUGE save for Reading.

90’ — Ria Percival with a long shot on target but it’s an easy save for Moloney. Into extra time we go, three minutes more.

90+1’ — Great counter by Spurs! Ayane gets ahold of a long pass and manages to square the ball into the box but Reading does just enough to put it out for a corner.

FULL TIME — A scoreless draw. Both sides battled hard but couldn’t find a way to put the ball in the net.

Reactions

• A point is better than a loss, but Spurs will look at this as a missed opportunity. They had a flurry of chances, especially late but again just couldn’t put the ball into the net.
• Tottenham’s defense was solid today. It feels like they have a good defensive core for the future, if they can sort out the midfield and attack for next season.
• The plan was to bypass midfield, press high, and hit on the counter. Spurs did a lot of that and had lots of space to exploit behind Reading’s midfielders but weren’t clinical enough with their chances.
• I criticized Esther Morgan last week but she played a good martch today and does look to be a good young talent who has filled in well at right back for Ashleigh Neville.
• Next match is a week from today at home against Bristol City, who are playing in the ContiCup final against Chelsea later today.