Reading FC Women’s superstar Canadian Deanne Rose is making a name for herself

Deanne Rose. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com
Deanne Rose. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com

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If 61 international caps for Canada, a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics and gold at the 2020 games in Japan hadn’t flagged the name and talent of Deanne Rose to you, then her goal four minutes into Saturday’s 1-0 FA WSL win Reading FC Women certainly will have.

First-capped by her country’s senior side at 16, Deanne Rose arrived in Berkshire after landing that gold medal in the summer and hasn’t looked back with three goals and eight appearances for the Royals.

So far, none of those three goals has been bigger than Saturday’s against the English champions Chelsea who’s only other defeat this season came on the opening day against Arsenal.

Even more remarkable – other than it being Rose’s first season as a professional, in the corresponding fixture at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in 2020/21, it was another Royals star – albeit now in Chelsea colours – Fran Kirby who scored four times for the Blues in a 5-0 rout.

Chelsea Women's star Fran Kirby celebrates against Reading FC Women.
Chelsea Women’s star Fran Kirby celebrates against Reading FC Women. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com

The stats for Saturday show Chelsea dominance, but it was Rose’s brilliant goal that stole the headlines. Picking up a pass from midfielder Justine Vanhaevermaet in the middle of the Royals half, Rose turned away from Drew Spence and hit the afterburners to leave the midfielder in her wake.

Reading attacked as a three with Natasha Dowie to Rose’s left and crucially, Emma Harries to her right. It was the latter she found with a quick pass 25 yards out after her solo run was interrupted by Jess Carter. Harries first time, played the ball back into Carter who hadn’t stopped and beat Zecira Musovic despite a last-ditch challenge from Millie Bright.

Watch Deanne Rose’s brilliant goal for Reading FC Women against Chelsea:

Chelsea, for the first time in 59 FA WSL games according to The Athletic’s Flo Lloyd-Hughes, had no answer and couldn’t breach the Royals defence for an equaliser.

It was a superb win for Reading and manager Kelly Chambers who got one over on Emma Hayes for the second time in a week after lifting the November Manager of the Month award.

Hayes, speaking after the game said: “You can’t win every game. I’m disappointed with us, but well done to Reading.

“They worked their socks off and made it difficult. When you play three in six days, that showed today. Even though we made changes, we weren’t good enough.”

Deanne Rose. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com
Deanne Rose. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com

Rose herself has become invaluable to Reading, her inclusion in the starting line up marked a significant turnaround in fortunes for the Royals after a tough start to the season that saw them lose their opening four league games.

Their Canadian youngster has come in and breathed new life into the sides attacking threat and with the equally impressive Harries alongside her, there should be plenty more to come from Reading this season.

Reading’s next two games are away in the Continental Cup on Wednesday 15th at Lewes, and then Sunday 19th at Manchester City before Leicester City Women come to Berkshire on Sunday 9th January. Fixtures and ticket details are here.

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