Hanson got the first goal of the season six minutes before the
break as Ella Toone picked her out with a superb pass and she
slotted the ball home to put United in front to the delight of
the 2,000-strong home crowd.
Reading pushed for an equaliser after halftime and Brooke
Chaplen saw her shot cannon off the bar and hit the ground and
bounce away, with television replays showing the ball could have
crossed the line. However, without goal line technology it was
not given.
Spanish full back Batlle then doubled United's lead in the 54th
minute when she fired a long-range rocket into the top right
corner for an early contender for goal of the season, and
Reading couldn't find a way back into the game.
Champions Chelsea join the fray on Sunday when they take the
short trip to Arsenal in a highly-anticipated derby clash
between two sides tipped as title contenders.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|