by Adam Evans
Date: Thursday February 4, 2020
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
READING overcame Cardiff City in a penalty shootout to book their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Neil Harris’ side deservedly led at the break courtesy of a Josh Murphy opener.
The game was blown wide open in the second half though; Cardiff increased their lead thanks to Robert Glatzel but Reading fought back through goals from Omar Richards and Andy Rinhimota.
Murphy looked to have snatched the winner in extra time after he capitalised on an error from Gabriel Osho, however Yakou Meite equalised in the dying embers to take it to penalties.
The visitors were in fine form from the spot and converted all four of their attempts as Cardiff paid the price for missing the mark from their opening two.
Reading had the first attempt of the match through John Swift who found himself in space on the edge of the box but the midfielder could only drag his shot wide.
In the early stages of the game Cardiff were certainly in control and were rewarded as Murphy punished Charlie Adams’ misplaced pass and fired it into the bottom left corner past Sam Walker.
Besides Swift’s stray effort in the opening stages, Reading seriously struggled in the first 30 minutes to get a foothold of the game.
However, the Royals tested Neil Etheridge after Meite attempted an audacious scorpion kick and forced the Cardiff keeper to parry it to safety. Etheridge was in action for the first time since the home side’s 6-1 drubbing away to QPR on New Year’s Day.
At the beginning of the second half, Will Vaulks played a sensational outside of the boot pass to feed in Glatzel, who remained calm and buried it for his fifth goal for the Bluebirds.
Cardiff had their tails up after they doubled their lead and were prevented their third of the evening after Gunter dived in with a last ditch tackle to prevent Danny Ward, who was in a one-on-one with Walker.
The visitors were still fighting for a way back as second-half substitute Sone Aluko hit a pure strike to bring Etheridge into action.
It was game on with 20 minutes left as Tyler Blackett’s drilled cross was put on a plate for Richards to head home at the near post.
The Berkshire based side’s perseverance paid off as Rinhimota smashed his volley into the back of the net following a scramble in the area between Meite and Aden Flint.
In the final stages of normal time Etheridge blocked Blackett’s close-range attempt to take the replay into extra time.
Mark Bowen’s side nearly found what would have been the winner through another Rinhimota goal, however, the midfielder’s effort was saved.
What looked to be the winning goal came gift-wrapped for Murphy after he pounced on an error made by Osho; a gentle touch was enough to guide the ball off the post and in.
Meite drew Reading level with four minutes left of extra time after he sweeped in Jordan Obita’s cross to send the game to penalty kicks.
Vaulks and Flint both squandered their chances from the spot which gave Aluko the decisive kick and he buried it to book Reading’s spot in the next round.
The Royals welcome Premier League Sheffield United to the Madejski Stadium on March 5th.
Star Player: Josh Murphy
Cardiff City: Neil Etheridge, Aden Flint, Will Vaulks, Robert Glatzel, Josh Murphy, Marlon Pack (C), Gavin Whyte (Thomas Sang 91’), Jazz Richards, Sol Bamba, Danny Ward (Callum Paterson 77’), Joel Bagan (Joe Bennett 82’)
Subs not used: Alex Smithies, Sean Morrison, Sam Bowen, Ntazana Mayembe
Reading: Sam Walker, Chris Gunter, Michael Morrison (C), John Swift, Yakou Meite, Tyler Blackett (Jordan Obita 97’), Charlie Adam (Sone Aluko 46’), Omar Richards, Pelê (Andy Rinhimota 63’), Gabriel Osho, George Puscas (Garath McCleary 46’)
Subs not used: Jökull Anderson, Sam Baldock, Jeriel Dorsett
