Reading Women 0-0 Southampton Women’s FC: Match Report — and more

Reading Women’s first league match in exactly a month finished all square on Sunday, with the points shared in a goalless draw against an in-form Southampton Women’s team at Arbour Park, Slough. 

Before yesterday, the Royals’ last three games had all been postponed due to waterlogged pitches. This meant the team hadn’t played a competitive match for three weeks: since their 5-1 victory over Larkspur Rovers, to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup.

Reading were in great form before the weather-enforced break, winning their last four, in the process scoring 14 goals and conceding just three. It therefore, perhaps, didn’t come as a surprise that Reading looked a little ring-rusty and just couldn’t find their rhythm against opponents in good form.

It was a close-fought match, with nudges and tackles flying in, but neither team managed to find that extra bit of quality to break the deadlock. It was Southampton who came closest, with a few long-range efforts, but for the agility of young Reading goalkeeper Sophie Butler.

Both sets of defenders could return to the dressing room and say “we did our job”.

Southampton and Reading are both among the contenders for the top three places, so it could be viewed as a glass-half-full ‘valuable point for both teams’ or, rather more likely, a glass-half-empty ‘two points dropped’ (especially with the Royals winning the reverse fixture 3-1, back in September, in only their third league match of the season).

The Sirens arrived at Arbour Park in confident form, undefeated in their last four league matches, after holding the league leaders, including an impressive 2-2 draw at Wycombe Wanderers last weekend. They would also consider themselves very much among a small group of teams looking to get out of a difficult and competitive Southern Region tier five league, after their relegation last season.

It was the second attempt at this fixture, after the initial scheduled match in December was abandoned when Keren Banduka required medical treatment following a nasty collision 30 minutes in. The Reading striker, thankfully, has since made a full recovery and was named among the starting XI for this encounter. 

Reading manager Ed Jackson-Norris’ line-up showed four changes from the cup match played three weeks ago. Butler was back in goal (in place of Eliska Simpson – the dual-registered Bristol City player) for her seventh start of the season. Tyra Wilson, Poppy Whitburn and Bethan Poole were all named among the starters, with Ellie Manners, Belle Rowden and Lauren Knight missing from the squad. 

Team: Sophie Butler (GK), Poppy Whitburn, Sarah Thompson, Keziah Banduka, Bethan Poole, Jazz King, Mia Parker (captain) (Ellie Szekeres, 74) , Emmi Tong (Lucy Bolitho, 59), Keren Banduka (Tia Johnson, 64), Nat Cowell (Georgia Hayes, 74), Tyra Wilson (Assia Fatri, 90)

Reading goalscorer(s): None

Southampton Women goalscorer(s): None

Reading yellow cards: None

Southampton Women yellow cards: None 

Reading red cards: None

Southampton Women red cards: None

First half

In the opening couple of minutes, Southampton strikers Liv Glover and Emily Wilson both danced into the Royals penalty area, only to be closed down, with the chances quickly snuffed by the Reading defence – in what was to become a theme throughout the first half (and the remainder of the match too, really).

After a foul on Wilson, King’s inswinging free-kick was delivered to the back post, narrowly avoiding the incoming Reading attack and going out of play for a goal kick.

Both sides continued to deliver balls into the danger zone, with neither able to get that decisive attempt on goal, amid some robust defending from each team.

Southampton attempted to pile pressure on Reading through a series of corners, with Reading’s stalwart defender Thompson commanding and able to head away most threats.

The Sirens did come close when, from only their second corner, a near-post effort from captain Lucy Mear was blocked on the goal line by Keziah Banduka.

With the first half drawing to a close, Keziah Banduka looked to have played the pass of the first half with a beautiful ball to release her sister Keren through on goal – only for an equally great bit defending and recovery from Southampton’s number six, Ash Mills, to close down the chance. 

It was Southampton’s Mills again who nearly had the final say, into time added on. Her ferocious free-kick strike was tipped onto the crossbar in the first of three super saves by Reading goalkeeper Butler. 

Half-time: 0-0

There was a busy start to the second half with a flurry of chances in the opening 10 minutes.

The Reading goalkeeper was called into action again, with Butler alert, positioned well and agile enough to tip over what was a great strike – and unexpected long-range effort – from the Sirens’ Dani Kjaer. 

Shortly after, Southampton won a couple of corners, with another dangerous set-piece flashed across the Reading penalty area and – fortunately – out to safety. 

Reading composed themselves and created a chance of their own. Whitburn released Wilson down the Royals’ right (Wilson and Keren Banduka swapping flanks for the second half), and her strike was saved at the near post by Grace Jenman in the Southampton goal.

Butler was alert again, diving to her left, to block and save a shot from Kaur from the edge of the area. 

On the hour mark, both managers started to make changes to see if their ‘finishers’ could not only change the dynamics but also the scoreline. Jackson-Norris made the first and second of five (eventual) changes throughout the second half, bringing on Bolitho and Johnson for Tong and Keren Banduka.

Even with the changes, Reading still struggled to get into their stride and rhythm, with Southampton continuing to battle. However, the visitors only really looked dangerous from their numerous set-pieces: their seventh inswinging corner of the match bounced off the crossbar, to the relief of Reading players and fans alike. 

With the match drawing to a close, the final chance fell to Reading. Substitute Fatri tried her luck from a tight angle, her shot looking like it might squirm under the Southampton goalkeeper, who did just enough to recover and hold the ball.

Full-time: 0-0

It’s the second 0-0 of the season for the Royals (the first coming against Wycombe, in Burnham, at the beginning of December), in contrast to their recent goalscoring form. 

Reading are also the lowest-scorers in the division, both home and away (outside of the bottom two teams), but with an extremely stingy defence, only rivalled by league leaders Wycombe. 

Although this result means Reading have fallen one place to fifth (Beaconsfield Town having leapfrogged the Royals with their victory over bottom-of-the-league Badshot Lea), it’s an artificial position, with some teams having played more or fewer matches.

AFC Porchester are the dark horses, and potential disrupters, with three to six matches in hand over other sides. They’re also a team Reading are still to face, including the tantalising semi-final in the League Cup later this month.

Next up for the Royals is an away league fixture against Sholing on Sunday March 8, kicking off at 2pm. With metrological spring upon us, the sun shining and a 3G pitch, there’s a very good chance this match will be on. See you there!

Other results

• Beaconsfield 2-1 Badshot Lea
• Fleet Town 2-7 Oxford City 
• Woodley United 0-4 AFC Porchester 
• Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 Winchester City Flyers

League standings

1. Wycombe Wanderers: 38 points from 15 matches
2. Southampton Women: 25 points from 13 matches
3. Winchester City Flyers: 25 points from 12 matches
4. Beaconsfield Town: 25 points from 16 matches
5. Reading: 23 points from 12 matches
6. AFC Porchester: 20 points from nine matches

Arsenal Interest Rebuffed as Corinthians Hold Firm on Matheuzinho

Arsenal’s long range scouting network has once again led them to South America. Yet, as reported by RTIESPORTE.COM, Corinthians have drawn a clear line regarding right back Matheuzinho, rejecting two offers including one from the Premier League.

The 25 year old has emerged as a central figure under Dorival Júnior. According to the report, Marcelo Paz believes “It is not the right time to negotiate the defender.”, with the club viewing him as a structural pillar rather than a tradable asset. Arsenal have monitored him since last season, but admiration alone does not shift negotiating positions.

Photo IMAGO

Contract Strength and Internal Priority

Matheuzinho’s contract runs until December 2028. That timeframe alters the dynamic significantly. Corinthians hold leverage, reinforced by a release clause of 100 million euros for international clubs and 50 million euros domestically.

RTIESPORTE.COM outline that the club purchased 60 percent of his economic rights in 2024 for 4 million euros from Flamengo. Since then, he has become a dressing room reference point, described as one of the principal leaders within the squad.

With a congested calendar and Copa Libertadores ambitions, stability has become policy. The report indicates that even proposals offering higher wages abroad have not tempted the player. Corinthians are planning a meeting to discuss salary appreciation and to reinforce the sporting project around him.

Arsenal’s Calculated Watch

For Arsenal, this is familiar territory. Monitoring does not equal immediate escalation. The club have built a reputation for patience, identifying profiles that fit technical and developmental frameworks.

Matheuzinho’s versatility and leadership appeal. Yet with Corinthians signalling that negotiations would only begin at figures approaching the international clause, the pathway is narrow.

At present, the message from São Paulo is unambiguous. Matheuzinho remains central to Dorival Júnior’s plans, and Corinthians have little appetite for compromise.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For Arsenal supporters, this report reads as both frustrating and encouraging. Frustrating because the profile is compelling. A 25 year old right back with leadership credentials and Libertadores ambition suggests resilience and maturity. Encouraging because it confirms the club’s recruitment radar remains expansive and proactive.

Fans understand that Arsenal rarely rush negotiations where leverage is limited. A 100 million euro clause places Corinthians in command. Even so, the knowledge that the player has not pushed for a move adds nuance. Arsenal supporters tend to favour targets who demonstrate clarity of intent.

There is also strategic patience to consider. If Arsenal view Matheuzinho as long term depth rather than immediate transformation, timing matters. The club’s hierarchy will not be drawn into inflated bidding for symbolic victories.

Supporters will watch closely. South American recruitment has yielded success before. Whether this evolves into a concrete approach may depend less on desire and more on opportunity.

The Dallas Cowboys chose to place the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens last Friday and it was something that just about everybody was expecting.

It happening in an official capacity was noteworthy though and sets up the next part of negotiations between the team and player. Dallas placed the non-exclusive tag on Pickens which means that he is free to negotiate with another team. Should another team offer Pickens a deal then the Cowboys have the right of first refusal, and if they choose to decline it the offering team would owe them a pair of first-round picks.

This whole process allows Pickens to test and gauge the market and provides an important point of protection for the Cowboys. It feels pretty win-win all the way around, but we are curious to hear what the rest of the class thinks.

Are you happy with how this has unfolded? Is there something you wish was different? Why?

Let us know what you think in the comments down below.

The Cincinnati Reds swiped a league-best 190 bases as recently as the 2023 season, easily topping the 166 bases swiped by the second-best Arizona Diamondbacks. The emergence of both Elly De La Cruz and TJ Friedl atop the order prompted then-manager David Bell to put his runners on the move as often as possible, and by the end of the 2024 season they had swiped a pretty astounding 207 bases as a team.

That was only good for third-best in all of Major League Baseball as teams all around the league leaned hard into running more often, but still was emblematic of the team speed they had cobbled together during their rebuild.

Then came the managerial change to Terry Francona, as well as the quad issue for Elly and the litany of hamstring and other ailments Friedl had battled through most of 2024. By season’s end in 2025 – Francona’s first in charge with the Reds – they had swiped only 105 bases, the 19th most of any team in the game.

Tito has gone on record as saying that he’s not necessarily opposed to running, just that he’s borderline morally opposed to giving away outs on the bases. And, the more you run, the more you inevitably run into some outs.

On top of that, the major additions to the lineup over the last half-year don’t exactly scream base stealers. Eugenio Suarez certainly isn’t as he heads into turning 35 years old, and Ke’Bryan Hayes has logged 12, 11, and 10 respectively in each of his last three seasons (as he’s fought consistent back issues).

There’s still plenty of base-stealing ability there, however. Spencer Steer has shown it in the past, Matt McLain routinely gets praised for his running ability, and healthy years from Elly and Friedl will almost assuredly see their season totals higher in 2026 than they were in 2025.

So, what’s the verdict? Will the Reds steal more bases this year than they did last season? Will they once again be one of the pace-setters in the game when it comes to speed and aggression?