READING suffered penalty shoot-out heartbreak at Wembley, losing to Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final.
After a tense 90 minutes where chances were few and far between, the game went all the way to spot-kicks.
Royals looked in control at 3-1 up in the shoot-out after goals from Yann Kermorgant, Danny Williams and Liam Kelly as well as an Ali Al-Habsi save.
But Jaap Stam’s men collapsed to lose 4-3 after Liam Moore blazed over and Jordan Obita’s effort was stopped by Danny Ward, allowing Christopher Schindler to tuck in the winning penalty.
It is absolute devastation for the Royals, who have defied the odds all season. But a showdown at Wembley proved a step too far as David Wagner’s men earned a crack at the Premier League for the first time.
Both managers opted for unchanged line-ups from their respective semi-final second leg victories but Obita did return from injury to take his place on the bench.
Play-off finals are often cagey affairs but Huddersfield, seeking a spot in the Premier League for the first time in their history, flew out of the traps.
While Michael Hefele may well have been disappointed to head an early Aaron Mooy free-kick just past the post, Izzy Brown was a far bigger culprit on the 10 minute mark.
Elias Kachunga did well to get in down the right and tease a low cross to the back post, but Chelsea loanee Brown inexplicably turned wide from three yards.
Reading were rocking but did register an effort when Lewis Grabban curled wide from 20 yards.
But it was certainly David Wagner’s side who were enjoying the better start, pressing Reading high, albeit without testing Ali Al-Habsi.
Royals regrouped, settling into the contest before the break with John Swift and Joey van den Berg both firing off target as the first half ended goalless.
Both teams wasted little time in testing the opposition keeper in the early second half exchanges with Chris Lowe’s effort comfortably held and Swift’s smartly saved down low by Ward.
The two previous games between these sides this season were settled by a solitary goal so it was perhaps unsurprising to see the game develop into an edgy battle after the early skirmishes.
Grabban was the next to try his luck, latching onto Yann Kermorgant’s ball over the top before prodding off target.
Huddersfield had a big call for a penalty waved away by Neil Swarbrick just past the hour mark when Hefele went down under van den Berg’s challenge and the Dutchman was soon withdrawn as Obita took his place.
Both managers threw on attackers in the form of Collin Quaner for Huddersfield and Garath McCleary for the Royals as the game entered its final 15 minutes.
In truth, neither side really looked like finding a breakthrough, even with seven minutes following an injury to Town skipper Tommy Smith, with a Chris Gunter header the closest either came to avoiding extra time.
It was a similarly passionate but scrappy affair in the additional 30 minutes with Liam Kelly and Kasey Palmer introduced to add some fresh legs.
And Royals almost found a way through as the clock ticked into the 105th minute when McCleary lined one up from the edge of the box, but fired wide.
With the game heading towards penalties, it was hearts-in-mouths for Reading fans as Huddersfield broke clear and after Gunter slipped in the box, Nahki Wells dragged a shot wide.
Penalties beckoned to settle the richest game in world football.
And it was all going well for Reading as they moved ahead thanks to powerful Kermorgant and Kelly strikes as well as a composed Williams finish.
Al-Habsi’s saved to deny Hefele looked to have given them the big advantage, but the game flipped on its head with Moore firing high over the bar before Obita, who netted in a shoot-out earlier this season, saw his shot saved by Ward.
Defender Schindler stepped up and despite Al-Habsi guessing correctly, he tucked it into the bottom corner to spark incredible celebrations.
The wait for play-off glory goes on, with this now a sixth heartbreaking failed attempt.
READING: Al-Habsi; Gunter (c), Ilori, Moore, van den Berg (Obita 64), Blackett; Evans, Williams, Swift (Kelly 100); Grabban (McCleary 74), Kermorgant.
Subs not used: Jaakkola, Popa, Beerens, Mendes.
Yellow cards: van den Berg (17), Kermorgant (19), Obita (105)
Penalties scored: Kermorgant, Williams, Kelly
Penalties saved/missed: Moore, Obita
HUDDERSFIELD: Ward; Smith (c) (Cranie 88), Hefele, Schindler, Lowe; Hogg, Mooy; Kachunga (Quaner 66), Brown (Palmer 98), van la Parra; Wells.
Subs not used: Coleman, Hudson, Holmes-Dennis, Whitehead.
Yellow cards: Hogg (29), Kachunga (61), Smith (75)
Penalties scored: Lowe, Wells, Mooy, Schindler
Penalties saved/missed: Hefele
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Attendance: 76,682
