Match Report
| Cambridge United | Cambridge United |  |  | Reading | Reading | ||||||||||||||||
| Armenio Parada | Armenio Parada | Aleksandar Nikolov | Aleksandar Nikolov | ||||||||||||||||||
| Anton Götz | A. Götz |  | 77 | G |  | 1 | | G | 51 |  | Jon Vickers | J. Vickers | |||||||||
| Ruel Thompson | R. Thompson | | 73 | D |  | 2 |  | D | 76 | | Oliver Birkwald | O. Birkwald | |||||||||
| George Kahn | G. Kahn | | 79 | D | | 3 | | D | 80 | | Adam Vassell | A. Vassell | |||||||||
| Robert Gray | R. Gray | | 74 | D | | 4 | | D | 77 |  | Martin Boban | M. Boban | |||||||||
| Alistair Weaver | A. Weaver | | 80 | M | | 5 | | M | 85 | | Shaun Godber | S. Godber | |||||||||
| Lars Bratseth | L. Bratseth |  | 81 | M | | 6 | | M | 82 | | David Lawton | D. Lawton | |||||||||
| Emile Beckham | E. Beckham | | 78 | M | | 7 | | M | 88 | | Stephen Mendez | S. Mendez | |||||||||
| Les Wright | L. Wright | | 80 | M | | 8 | | M | 82 | | Kemal Haynes | K. Haynes | |||||||||
| Norman Best | N. Best | | 82 | A |  | | 9 | | | A | 84 |  | Antonio Bento | A. Bento | |||||||
| Ross Barry | R. Barry | | 73 | A | | 10 | | A | 80 | | Helder Lopes | H. Lopes | |||||||||
| Daniel Greaves | D. Greaves | | 75 | A | | 11 | | A | 84 | | Duarte Moutinho | D. Moutinho | |||||||||
| Stan Clemence | S. Clemence | | 72 | D | | 12 | | D | 73 | | Gary Allman | G. Allman | |||||||||
| Thierry Guppy | T. Guppy | | 73 | M | | 13 | | M | 81 | | Danny Cottee | D. Cottee | |||||||||
| Wes Terry | W. Terry | | 85 | A | | 14 | | A | 83 |  | Bernard Wome | B. Wome | |||||||||
 today's match is sponsored by FISO |
Match Report
It's a warm sunny day here at R Costings Abbey Stadium where Cambridge United play host to Reading. A crowd of 19,933 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Both Cambridge United and Reading are lined up in a 3-4-3 formation.
Today's match is refereed by Nelson Fuchs.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Both Cambridge United and Reading are lined up in a 3-4-3 formation.
Today's match is refereed by Nelson Fuchs.
0.00
0-0Reading start the match!
3.20
0-0Stephen Mendez clumsily knocks into Emile Beckham. The referee calls over Stephen Mendez and warns him to calm down! Emile Beckham carries on, but is struggling a bit.
4.20
0-1Martin Boban advances with the ball. Martin Boban kicks a strong pass forward to Duarte Moutinho. Duarte Moutinho shoots from outside the area which easily beats the keeper. Goal!!
8.37
0-1Helder Lopes chips the ball to his team mate, Duarte Moutinho. Duarte Moutinho flicks the ball to his team mate, Kemal Haynes. Some world-class footwork from Kemal Haynes provides some space. He stabs the ball goalward. Robert Gray steps in front, blocking the shot. He clears the ball quickly up field.
16.33
0-1Alistair Weaver flicks a high pass forward. Norman Best collects the pass. Norman Best threads the ball through to Lars Bratseth but he's offside!
18.36
0-1Lars Bratseth kicks a strong pass forward to Ross Barry. Ross Barry knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
20.40
0-1Oliver Birkwald threads a neat ball through to Adam Vassell. Adam Vassell knocks the ball to his team mate, Stephen Mendez. Stephen Mendez deftly passes the ball to David Lawton, releasing him through on goal. David Lawton cuts inside the defence and shoots at goal. The ball curls but the keeper is able to reach it. Excellent save!
21.04
Stephen Mendez threads a neat ball through to Helder Lopes. Helder Lopes deftly passes the ball to Antonio Bento, releasing him through on goal. Antonio Bento tries a spectacular strike. The ball flies into the top corner - goal!!
24.02
Shaun Godber kicks a strong pass forward to David Lawton. David Lawton threads the ball through to Stephen Mendez but he's offside!
26.46
Les Wright sees a break and surges forward. Les Wright threads a neat ball through to Daniel Greaves. Daniel Greaves strikes a beautiful right-footed shot at goal. The ball flies into the top corner - goal!!
33.31
1-2Robert Gray flicks the ball to his team mate, Lars Bratseth. Lars Bratseth knocks the ball to his team mate, Emile Beckham. Emile Beckham lofts in a cross ball towards Daniel Greaves. Daniel Greaves jumps high and flicks the ball with his head but he balloons it over the crossbar!
34.45
George Kahn takes a quick throw-in. Ruel Thompson threads the ball through to George Kahn. George Kahn kicks a strong pass forward to Les Wright. Les Wright lofts in a cross ball towards Ross Barry. Ross Barry outjumps his marker and heads the ball goalward. Jon Vickers manages to gather it.
40.22
Oliver Birkwald clumsily knocks into Daniel Greaves. Oliver Birkwald is shown the yellow card! Daniel Greaves gets up, but that knock is affecting his game.
42.25
With a delightful solo run, Oliver Birkwald stretches the opposition's defence. Oliver Birkwald makes a probing pass to Antonio Bento but he's offside!
45.00
The referee blows for the end of the first half
Both teams emerge for the second half. Cambridge United appear unchanged since the first half. Reading also appear unchanged since the first half. Both teams look fired up and appear much more hungry than they were previously.
45.00
Cambridge United kick off the second half!
57.24
Martin Boban knocks the ball forward to Antonio Bento. Antonio Bento shoots from long range. It curls slightly but Anton Götz manages to gather it comfortably.
60.25
1-2Reading have made 3 substitutions with Gary Allman replacing Oliver Birkwald, Danny Cottee replacing Shaun Godber and Bernard Wome replacing Helder Lopes .
61.34
David Lawton runs deep into the other half of the pitch. David Lawton edges inside the box! David Lawton side-steps and rifles a shot at goal but it is tipped over by Anton Götz.
65.14
Emile Beckham brings the ball forward. Emile Beckham makes a simple pass to Alistair Weaver. Alistair Weaver knocks in a cross ball towards Norman Best. Norman Best flicks the ball with his head but it flies wide!
67.30
Lars Bratseth receives the ball from a throw-in from George Kahn. Lars Bratseth runs forward with the ball. Lars Bratseth knocks the ball forward to Daniel Greaves. Daniel Greaves knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Jon Vickers who gathers it comfortably.
69.16
Seeing a gap ahead, Adam Vassell plays the ball forward to Kemal Haynes. With a delightful solo run, Kemal Haynes stretches the opposition's defence. Kemal Haynes shoots from 25 yards but it curls horrendously wide!
72.33
David Lawton makes a probing pass to Kemal Haynes. Kemal Haynes skips past Ruel Thompson! Kemal Haynes shows great control and tries a shot on goal. The ball takes a deflection leaving Anton Götz with no chance!! Goal for Reading!
75.48
Adam Vassell knocks the ball to his team mate, Bernard Wome. Bernard Wome controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Stephen Mendez. Stephen Mendez whips in a cross ball towards Duarte Moutinho. Duarte Moutinho powers a header at goal but Anton Götz is on top of his game. Excellent keeping!
77.06
Gary Allman makes a simple pass to Stephen Mendez. Stephen Mendez brings the ball forward. Stephen Mendez threads the ball through to Antonio Bento but he's offside!
78.20
Duarte Moutinho flicks the ball to his team mate, Bernard Wome. Bernard Wome tries a spectacular long range effort but it is miles over!
84.20
Adam Vassell flicks a high pass forward to David Lawton who brings the ball under control. David Lawton knocks the ball forward to Antonio Bento. Antonio Bento knocks in a cross ball towards Bernard Wome. Bernard Wome makes a deft header. It's there!! Anton Götz has to pick the ball from the back of the net!
87.15
David Lawton threads a neat ball through to Duarte Moutinho. Duarte Moutinho knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by George Kahn.
90.00
The whistle indicates full-time!
Match Statistics
Goals
1
4
Shots on Target
2
9
Shots off Target
2
2
Offsides
1
3
Fouls
0
2
Yellow Cards
0
1
Red Cards
0
0
Possession
38%
62%
Play Area
32.9%
40.5%
26.6%
Scorers
Man of the Match
| The man of the match was awarded to Antonio Bento of Reading |
Match Ratings
| 1. | Anton Götz (GK) | 7 | |
| 2. | Ruel Thompson (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | George Kahn (DEF) | 6 | |
| 4. | Robert Gray (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Alistair Weaver (MID) | 6 | |
| 6. | Lars Bratseth (MID) | 7 | |
| 7. | Emile Beckham (MID) | 7 | |
| 8. | Les Wright (MID) | 7 | |
| 9. | Norman Best (ATT) | 6 | |
| 10. | Ross Barry (ATT) | 6 | |
| 11. | Daniel Greaves (ATT) |  | 8 |
| 12. | Stan Clemence (DEF) | 0 | |
| 13. | Thierry Guppy (MID) | 0 | |
| 14. | Wes Terry (ATT) | 0 | |
| 1. | Jon Vickers (GK) | 6 | |
| 2. | Oliver Birkwald (DEF) |  | 6 |
| 3. | Adam Vassell (DEF) | 6 | |
| 4. | Martin Boban (DEF) | 8 | |
| 5. | Shaun Godber (MID) | 6 | |
| 6. | David Lawton (MID) | 8 | |
| 7. | Stephen Mendez (MID) | 7 | |
| 8. | Kemal Haynes (MID) | | 8 |
| 9. | Antonio Bento (ATT) | | 9 |
| 10. | Helder Lopes (ATT) | 7 | |
| 11. | Duarte Moutinho (ATT) | | 8 |
| 12. | Gary Allman (DEF) | 6 | |
| 13. | Danny Cottee (MID) | 6 | |
| 14. | Bernard Wome (ATT) | | 8 |