Match Report
| Reading | Reading |  |  | Sunderland | Sunderland | ||||||||||||||||
| Aleksandar Nikolov | Aleksandar Nikolov | Derek Robson | Derek Robson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Patrick Matthews | P. Matthews |  | 66 | G |  | 1 | | G | 65 |  | Brutil Rijkaard | B. Rijkaard | |||||||||
| Dietmar Götz | D. Götz |  | 62 | D |  | 2 |  | D | 59 | | Nicholas Mercer | N. Mercer | |||||||||
| David Soares | D. Soares |  | 60 | D | | 3 | |  | D | 72 | | Rob Seedorf | R. Seedorf | ||||||||
| Neil Etherington | N. Etherington | | 72 | D | | 4 | | D | 62 | | Matt Keane | M. Keane | |||||||||
| Patricio Guerrero | P. Guerrero |  | 70 | M | | 5 | | M | 71 | | James Dean | J. Dean | |||||||||
| Roberto Lima | R. Lima | | 56 | M | | 6 | | M | 49 | | Steven Fletcher | S. Fletcher | |||||||||
| Marc Bartsch | M. Bartsch | | 56 | M | | 7 | | M | 66 | | Trevor Keane | T. Keane | |||||||||
| Ian Murray | I. Murray | | 58 | M | | 8 | | M | 57 | | Norman Robson | N. Robson | |||||||||
| Luciano Colle | L. Colle |  | 67 | A | | 9 | | A | 72 | | Marc Formon | M. Formon | |||||||||
| Nuno Sousa | N. Sousa | | 74 | A | | | 10 | | A | 56 | | Richard Davies | R. Davies | ||||||||
| Omer Byrne | O. Byrne | | 59 | A | | 11 | | A | 59 | | Adam Hall | A. Hall | |||||||||
| Stephen Souness | S. Souness |  | 57 | D | | 12 | | D | 52 | | John Burley | J. Burley | |||||||||
| Gavin Gower | G. Gower | | 53 | M | | 13 | | M | 54 | | Martin Dittmann | M. Dittmann | |||||||||
| Callum Naysmith | C. Naysmith | | 55 | A | | 14 | | A | 50 | | Tommy Beckham | T. Beckham | |||||||||
 today's match is sponsored by AGI |
Match Report
An overcast sky looms overhead here at Madejski Stadium where Reading play host to Sunderland. A crowd of 19,546 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Both Reading and Sunderland are lined up in a 3-4-3 formation.
Today's match is refereed by Terry Boyd.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Both Reading and Sunderland are lined up in a 3-4-3 formation.
Today's match is refereed by Terry Boyd.
0.00
0-0The whistle blows and Reading kick off!
2.05
0-0Steven Fletcher darts forward. Steven Fletcher whips in a cross ball towards Adam Hall. Adam Hall finds space and glances the ball goalwards with his head but it whistles just wide of the post!
4.55
1-0Seeing a gap ahead, David Soares plays the ball forward to Marc Bartsch. Marc Bartsch threads a neat ball through to Omer Byrne. Omer Byrne makes a probing pass between the defence to Patricio Guerrero. Some silky footwork from Patricio Guerrero provides him some room. He curls a shot at goal. What a cracker!! Brutil Rijkaard had no chance!! Goal for Reading!
10.39
James Dean receives the ball from a throw-in from Norman Robson. James Dean makes a simple pass to Marc Formon. Marc Formon lofts in a cross ball towards James Dean. James Dean rises majestically and gets a header on goal. The ball dips under the bar and into the back of the net. Goal!!
15.06
1-1Sunderland appear to have rearranged themselves into a 3-4-3 formation.
15.06
1-1Rob Seedorf flicks a high pass forward. Trevor Keane collects the pass. Trevor Keane threads the ball through to Marc Formon. Marc Formon shoots from long range. The ball swerves viciously but the keeper is a match for it. Good save!
20.04
Rob Seedorf controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Norman Robson. With imagination, Norman Robson plays the ball forward to Trevor Keane. Trevor Keane whips in a cross ball towards Norman Robson. Norman Robson connects with a diving header. The ball takes a deflection leaving Patrick Matthews with no chance!! Goal for Sunderland!
26.48
Marc Formon knocks the ball forward to Steven Fletcher. Steven Fletcher shoots from distance. Solid save from Patrick Matthews. What a great pair of hands!
30.53
1-2Nicholas Mercer takes the throw-in. Rob Seedorf advances with the ball. Rob Seedorf threads a neat ball through to Adam Hall. Adam Hall knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by David Soares.
32.12
Dietmar Götz breaks forward. Dietmar Götz knocks the ball to his team mate, Luciano Colle. Luciano Colle chips the ball to his team mate, Roberto Lima. Roberto Lima takes a shot at goal but it goes wide for a goal kick.
33.52
Showing composure, Roberto Lima plays the ball forward to Luciano Colle. Luciano Colle skips past Matt Keane! Luciano Colle tries a spectacular strike but somehow Brutil Rijkaard manages to keep it out.
34.22
Rob Seedorf controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Norman Robson. Norman Robson takes it forward alone. Norman Robson whips in a cross ball towards Adam Hall. Adam Hall outjumps his marker and heads the ball goalward. Patrick Matthews picks it out of the air!
39.32
1-2Patricio Guerrero flicks a high pass forward to Nuno Sousa who brings the ball under control. Nuno Sousa makes a pass forward but Omer Byrne is yards offside!
40.38
1-2Roberto Lima passes the ball forward to Nuno Sousa. Nuno Sousa skips past Matt Keane! Nuno Sousa shows great control and tries a shot on goal. The ball curls but is blocked by Nicholas Mercer's outstretched leg.
42.37
Neil Etherington kicks a strong pass forward to Ian Murray. Ian Murray passes the ball forward to Roberto Lima. Roberto Lima makes a defence splitting pass to Nuno Sousa. Nuno Sousa makes some space for himself and shoots at goal. Rob Seedorf steps in front, blocking the shot. He clears the ball quickly up field.
45.00
The first half ends with the referee blowing his whistle!
Both teams emerge for the second half. Reading appear unchanged since the first half. Sunderland have changed their lineup with Tommy Beckham replacing Adam Hall and John Burley replacing Matt Keane. The Reading players look more determined than they did at the start of the game.
45.00
Sunderland kick off and get the second half underway!
47.19
1-2Sunderland are dictating the run of play here today.
53.49
Neil Etherington makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Dietmar Götz. Dietmar Götz deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Marc Bartsch. Marc Bartsch knocks the ball beyond the defensive line but Omer Byrne is offside!
54.43
Dietmar Götz makes a simple pass to Nuno Sousa. Nuno Sousa lofts in a cross ball towards Marc Bartsch. Marc Bartsch is perfectly placed and heads the ball at goal. The keeper is on top of it. Quality keeping!
57.14
David Soares threads a neat ball through to Ian Murray. Ian Murray makes a beautiful solo run. Ian Murray plays a scrappy one-two with Luciano Colle and advances towards the goal... Ian Murray tries a spectacular strike his aim is horrendously poor!
59.12
James Dean threads the ball through to Trevor Keane. Trevor Keane tries a spectacular long range effort but it's well over the bar!
60.08
1-2Reading have made 2 substitutions with Stephen Souness replacing David Soares and Gavin Gower replacing Roberto Lima .
63.16
Gavin Gower knocks the ball forward to Nuno Sousa. Nuno Sousa makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Omer Byrne but he's offside!
65.08
James Dean takes a quick throw-in. Trevor Keane flicks the ball to his team mate, Tommy Beckham. Tommy Beckham whips in a cross ball towards Richard Davies. Richard Davies powers a header at goal. Magnificent save by Patrick Matthews!
66.04
Trevor Keane receives the ball from a throw-in from John Burley. Trevor Keane deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Richard Davies. Richard Davies shoots from long range but is denied by Patrick Matthews. Excellent save.
69.53
Nicholas Mercer kicks a strong pass forward to Rob Seedorf. Seeing a gap ahead, Rob Seedorf plays the ball forward to Trevor Keane. Trevor Keane shoots from outside the area. The keeper is more than a match for it. Fabulous stop!
72.13
James Dean threads a neat ball through to Tommy Beckham. Tommy Beckham knocks in a cross ball towards Richard Davies. Richard Davies is perfectly placed and heads the ball at goal. Patrick Matthews easily picks it out of the air!
75.42
Dietmar Götz flicks a high pass forward. Ian Murray easily holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Ian Murray flicks a high pass forward. Luciano Colle collects the pass. Luciano Colle shoots from long range. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is more than a match for it. Fabulous save!
77.33
Reading have made a substitution with Callum Naysmith replacing Omer Byrne .
79.36
Callum Naysmith makes a simple pass to Nuno Sousa. Nuno Sousa plays a quick one-two with Marc Bartsch and rushes in on goal... Some world-class footwork from Nuno Sousa provides some space. He scuffs the ball at goal. The ball dips under the bar and into the back of the net. Goal!!
85.31
Richard Davies knocks the ball to his team mate, Marc Formon. Marc Formon controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal but Patrick Matthews reads it well. Excellent keeping!
89.39
Trevor Keane sees Richard Davies in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Richard Davies knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Stephen Souness.
90.00
The whistle indicates full-time!
Match Statistics
Goals
2
2
Shots on Target
7
10
Shots off Target
2
2
Offsides
4
0
Fouls
0
0
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0
Possession
50.6%
49.4%
Play Area
31.3%
41%
27.7%
Scorers
Man of the Match
| The man of the match was awarded to Patrick Matthews of Reading |
Match Ratings
| 1. | Patrick Matthews (GK) | 9 | |
| 2. | Dietmar Götz (DEF) | 7 | |
| 3. | David Soares (DEF) | 6 | |
| 4. | Neil Etherington (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Patricio Guerrero (MID) |  | 8 |
| 6. | Roberto Lima (MID) | 6 | |
| 7. | Marc Bartsch (MID) | 7 | |
| 8. | Ian Murray (MID) | 7 | |
| 9. | Luciano Colle (ATT) | 7 | |
| 10. | Nuno Sousa (ATT) | | 9 |
| 11. | Omer Byrne (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | Stephen Souness (DEF) | 6 | |
| 13. | Gavin Gower (MID) | 6 | |
| 14. | Callum Naysmith (ATT) | 6 | |
| 1. | Brutil Rijkaard (GK) | 7 | |
| 2. | Nicholas Mercer (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Rob Seedorf (DEF) | 8 | |
| 4. | Matt Keane (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | James Dean (MID) | | 8 |
| 6. | Steven Fletcher (MID) | 7 | |
| 7. | Trevor Keane (MID) | 7 | |
| 8. | Norman Robson (MID) | | 8 |
| 9. | Marc Formon (ATT) | 7 | |
| 10. | Richard Davies (ATT) | 6 | |
| 11. | Adam Hall (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | John Burley (DEF) | 6 | |
| 13. | Martin Dittmann (MID) | 0 | |
| 14. | Tommy Beckham (ATT) | 6 | |