Twice the Royals came from behind on the opening day at Stoke City, but a late winner from big money signing Sam Surridge secured victory for the Potters at the bet365 Stadium this afternoon.
A scuffed hooked effort from Stoke’s Jacob Brown produced the first chance of the season, Rafael easily gathering the ball into his grasp.
At the other end, John Swift won a free kick and then a corner when his set piece was deflected behind. Swift stood over the corner too but a Stoke head won the ball once more and Reading’s early pressure moment was calmly dealt with.
With 10 minutes played, Ben Wilmot miscued a clearance from Yiadom’s cross and the ball sliced off his left leg and looped over Joe Bursik in the City goal and the home side’s crossbar to his relief. The subsequent corner was fired into Bristow who volleyed a difficult chance well wide of the target.
Rinomhota did better moments later, when he forced a fine save from Bursik with a right-footed shot from just inside the penalty area – the City keeper tipping it wide at full stretch.
McIntyre scrappily toed the ball away from Fletcher inside the area as the home side began to exert some pressure and Batth should arguably have done better when he connected with a back post header but directed his effort into the side netting.
Bursik needed to be alive to palm clear a low Swift cross from the left that threatened to pick out Azeez in the middle. But Stoke took the lead with 25 minutes gone; Moore was penalised for holding onto Brown and a beautifully delivered free kick dropped to Powell to half-volley home.
A minute later, Reading were level! Joao recycled a ball that ricocheted off Azeez, passed it inside, it came off a Stoke leg and bobbled kindly into the path of Swift. With the keeper to beat, Swift coolly rounded Bursik and on the slide found the back of the empty net from the tightest of angles.
But the home crowd were up again when Brown instantly put the Potters back in front. In some space to the right side of the Royals box, he drilled low and a slight deflection off Moore’s block took it past the wrongfooted Rafael and into the Reading goal. A crazy period in the first half and the game had twisted and turned in a matter of minutes.
A direct ball from McIntyre found the run of Azeez in behind the City defence, and his first touch controlled it but took him away from goal forcing to settle for a corner which Moore met at the near post but directed wide.
Joao took aim from 30 yards out when he brought down a sliced Bursik clearance but the shot whistled well wide of its target. But a magnificent block from Morrison denied Vrancic an opening day goal when he connected sweetly with a right-footed drive from just outside the box.
Two minutes of injury time were signalled and Laurent won a free kick which was swept in from Swift and recycled by Yiadom from the right. McIntyre met it with his head but Bursik was equal to his looped header, leaping to pick it out of the air as it floated goalwards.
Half-time: Stoke City 2-1 Reading
The Potters nearly doubled their lead early in the second half when Fletcher headed a corner over the bar from a good position. The hosts were looking dangerous aerially and from every set piece.
Again from a corner, Stoke threatened. This time an inswinging delivery dropped to Fox beyond the back post but his cushioned volley was straight at Rafael who gobbled it up.
An unexpected pause in the game just before the hour allowed an injured linesman to switch places with his fourth official. And upon the restart, Yiadom won a corner with a great run down the right.
And from that corner, the visitors levelled. Swift delivered the ball and captain Liam Moore rose highest to thunder a header past Bursik and into the back of the net with half an hour remaining.
Josh Tymon couldn’t keep a volley down and lashed an effort into the stands shortly after as Stoke looked to respond immediately. Then a worked Reading free kick released Rinomhota but his cut back was intercepted before Stoke could be caught out any further.
Bristow then made progress down the left and his cross picked out Azeez who won a corner with a header that was deflected behind. Swift’s first inswinger was glanced behind for a repeat on the right side. His second, Stoke managed to head clear.
Reading were on top, so the home side made a double change – bringing on Sam Clucas and big money signing Sam Surridge. And Surridge got on the end of a cross from the right but couldn’t arch his neck enough to cause Rafael any concern.
Dejan Tetek and George Puscas entered the fray for the Royals with a quarter of an hour remaining, while Alfie Doughty was Stoke’s third change of the afternoon.
A series of stoppages led to a disjointed period of play, Brown flashing a ball across the Royals box at one end, then Azeez directing a header towards the bottom left corner from distance – Bursik was equal to it.
But the game was won with five minutes remaining. Stoke made progress down the right and cut a ball back for Surridge who swept the ball past Rafael on the turn, from only 10 yards out.
McIntyre got on the end of a low cross from Yiadom and drilled an effort just beyond the outstretched leg of Puscas and wide.
Seven minutes of injury time were announced. And Tom Holmes was thrown on up front. But Stoke held firm and the Royals left without anything to show for their efforts.
Full-time: Stoke City 3-2 Reading
Stoke City: Bursik, Smith, Fox, Allen, Batth, Vrancic (Thompson 88), Fletcher (Surridge 73), Tymon (Doughty 78), Wilmot, Brown, Powell (Clucas 73).
Subs: Davies, Thompson, Ince, Souttar.
Yellow:
Goals: Powell 25, Brown 27, Surridge 85
Reading: Rafael, Yiadom, Bristow, Moore, Morrison, McIntyre, Rinomhota, Laurent, Swift (Tetek 77), Azeez (Holmes 88), Joao (Puscas 77).
Subs: Southwood, Holmes, Tetek, Camara, Puscas.
Yellow: Moore, Laurent
Goals: Swift 26, Moore 60
Att: 19,086