Reading 2-2 Ipswich Town (1-3 pens): Royals exit Carabao Cup after penalty shootout defeat

READING FC were eliminated from the Carabao Cup after a penalty shootout defeat to Championship side Ipswich Town.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan netted an 87th minute goal to take the game to spot kicks, but Ipswich progressed after missed penalties from Charlie Savage, Caylan Vickers and Ben Elliott.

Selles opted to make eight changes from the team after their late defeat at Exeter at the weekend.

There was plenty of youth in the side as Ben Elliott, Michael Craig, Jack Senga and Basil Tuma were all given their chance to impress.

Meanwhile, there was a familiar face on the Ipswich bench as former Royal Sone Aluko, who made a £7.5million move to Reading in 2017, featured for the Tractor Boys.

Reading knocked out Championship opposition in the last round when their young rise shocked Millwall at the Den with an exceptional performance as they put four past them without reply.

‘Best striker in the league’: Reading FC start 2026 with win to continue unbeaten run

Reading FC owner Rob Couhig denies plans to downgrade academy or sell training ground

However, they were unable to repeat the trick of beating a side in the division above them.

Selles’ team made an explosive start to the tie and scored with the first attack of the game.

Basil Tuma looked to pick out Caylan Vickers in the middle and after Cieran Slicker tried to avert the danger, the ball struck Ipswich defender Brandon Williams and deflected into the net to give Reading an early lead.

Kieran McKenna’s side tried to make an instant response to cancel out their sloppy start when Lee Evans connected superbly with a sweet strike from 20 yards that was caught confidently by Coniah Boyce-Clarke.

Boyce-Clarke was kept busy as he got across his line to parry away Freddie Ladapo’s strike at goal.

A lengthy stoppage prevented any momentum as Amadou Mbengue had to be treated for an injury, but was fine to continue.

Reading could have punished Ipswich on the break when Vickers carried the ball forward with purpose and could have slipped the ball in for Tuma. He opted to play out wide to Tivonge Rushesha, but the visitors just managed to recover with a fortunate bounce of the ball running through to the keeper.

Boyce-Clarke was left scrambling across his line as a fierce volley from Jack Taylor landed just wide of the mark.

The Tractor boys picked up two bookings in quick succession as both Lee Evans and Cameron Humphreys were carded for cynical challenges.

With six minutes added onto the first-half, Ipswich ensured that they levelled.

Omari Hutchinson skipped past Matty Carson to get into the box and his cross was tapped in at the back post by Humphreys from a few yards out.

Both teams made changes for the second-half as Selles brought on captain Andy Yiadom to replace Carson, while former Reading player Aluko appeared for Ipswich.

The first presentable chance of the half came for Elkan Baggott who connected with Williams’ cross but his header drifted off target.

Ladapo latched onto a long ball and poked the ball past Boyce-Clarke, but with the ball trickling towards goal, Tom McIntyre was able to mop up the danger.

But just moments later, Ladapo was able to put the Tractor Boys in front as they exploited a huge gap in the middle of Reading’s defence which saw Ladapo race onto the ball and keep his cool to slot past Boyce-Clarke.

A double switch from Selles saw Charlie Savage and Harvey Knibbs replace Rushesha and Senga for the final 25 minutes.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan then replaced Tuma and Jeriel Dorsett took the place of Kelvin Abrefa.

Ehibhatiomhan made his impact in the 87th minute as he capitalised on a slip at the back, took the ball into the box and calmly passed into the bottom corner to level.