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Reading FC conceded a 94th minute decider to fall 2-1 to league leaders Burnley on Saturday afternoon.
The Royals found themselves ahead early in the second half after Tom Ince’s delightful chip found the back of the net. However, Vincent Kompany’s side levelled the score through a Manuel Benson effort.
The visitors looked to have held out for a valuable point, but Anass Zaroury’s header deep into stoppage time ensured the spoils went to the home side who retained their position atop the Championship.
Paul Ince made two changes to the eleven which saw off the Robins at the SCL Stadium last weekend. Ovie Ejaria made his first start since August, while skipper Andy Yiadom returned after serving a one-game suspension.
Reading made a measured start to the game, adopting their customary 5-3-2 formation, not afraid to let Burnley keep the ball. The midfield pressed diligently in the opening exchanges, winning the ball in advanced positions on a number of occasions.
Their industry was rewarded with an early chance as a Tom Ince corner was met by a combination of Yiadom and Mamadou Loum. The pair appeared to get in each other’s way and were unable to direct the ball goalwards.
Burnley responded with an aerial opportunity of their own moments later as Connor Roberts glanced wide after good work by Zaroury on the left side.
The dangerous winger was the Clarets’ outlet of choice in the first half, getting the better of Amadou Mbengue a few times.
The home side continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession, with the visitors starved not only of the ball, but of chances. Paul Ince’s men were reduced to a solitary Yakou Meite sighter from the halfway line, having spotted Arijanet Muric off his line, but could not find the back of the net.
Zaroury was a constant thorn in Reading’s side, finding himself goalside of the backline through some sublime demonstrations of pace and close control. The Belgian would surely have fired his side ahead had it not been for some crucial last-ditch interventions from Yiadom.
The home side looked to switch the focus of their attacks to their right side as the clock ticked past the half hour mark, with both Tella and Gumundsson making dangerous runs down the Royals’ left, in behind Rahman.
A firmly stuck shot to the head forced Tom McIntyre off the field of play, with the centre-back seemingly experiencing issues with his vision.
Burnley could have gone ahead after Tella found space in behind Rahman once again, fizzing a teasing cross across the face of goal. The Ghanian’s eagerness to cut off the pass saw him go into a book for a late challenge on Tella moments later.
The best chance of the first 45 minutes came right at the end of the half. Tella found himself bearing down on goal after beating Mbengue to a loose ball. Rather than take the shot on himself, he found a free Rodriguez who blazed over the bar with a left footed effort from 10 yards out.
The second period started much the same way the first had ended, with Burnley seemingly camped in the Reading half. A loose pass by Mbengue seven minutes after the interval saw Tella driving into the right side of Reading’s box. His cross just lacked the pace to reach Zaroury, who was waiting eagerly at the back post, allowing Yiadom to clear his lines.
The Royals did the seemingly unthinkable in the 56th minute and put themselves ahead thanks to the simplest of moves. Meite flicked a routine ball around the corner into the path of an on-rushing Ince. The forward beat the keeper to the ball, executing a delicate chip into the back of the net. Reading’s number 10 peeled off to celebrate in front of the travelling fans and his teammates.
The lead was to be shortlived, however, as Burnley restored parity through substitute Benson. Zaroury did well to wrong-foot Hoilett and drag back to Josh Brownhill, whose cross was cleared to the edge of the box where Benson struck a falling ball with enough venom to beat Lumley.
The home side continued to turn the screw, with Vitinho connecting well with a volley from 18 yards out, albeit with a little too much power.
In the 84th minute, Benson found Zaroury free on the penalty spot, who looked set to secure the three points for the home side, but Loum was able to apply just about enough pressure to put off the winger, whose shot was saved by Lumley. A long range curled effort from Brownhill flew wide of the mark moments later.
Reading had a late shout for a penalty in stoppage time as Ince was felled in the box by Ian Maatsen, but the referee was quick to dismiss the appeal. Replays showed the decision to be extremely harsh on the visitors, with the defender making contact with the man and not the ball.
The Clarets had the last laugh as a fantastic performance from Zaroury was finally rewarded as he stole into the far post, beating Hoilett to a cross from the right, to head home the winner in the 94th minute.
Paul Ince’s men will be disappointed with the nature of the defeat, with the side falling to 11th in the Championship.
Burnley: Muric, Roberts, Harwood-Bellis, Beyer, Maatsen, Bastien, Brownhill, Gudmundsson, Tella, Zaroury, Rodriguez
Subs: Taylor, Egan-Riley, Barnes, Peakcock-Farrell, Benson, da Silva, Dervisoglu
Reading: Lumley, Mbengue, Yiadom, Holmes, McIntyre, Rahman, Hendrick, Loum, Ejaria, Ince, Meite
Subs: Carroll, Long, Joao, Guinness-Walker, Fornah, Bouzanis, Hoilett
