Penalty anguish for the Royals on the road
Despite staging a spirited comeback in the second half, Reading fell to a shoot-out loss against Colchester United on Tuesday evening.
It was a tough start for a young Royals side who had four youngsters in the starting eleven making their first team debut. A trio of corners in the opening 90 seconds threatened the Reading backline, and they were duly punished in the 2nd minute when Colchester's Tom Hopper was able to convert a header from six yards out.
The quick start from the hosts set the tone for the first half of the opening period, with the League Two outfit looking a continued threat from set pieces around the Reading box.
Good work from Andre Garcia on the right hand side had looked to offer Rubén Sellés' side an opening, but he overhit is cross when searching for fellow full debutant Akande on the left hand wing.
Mandela Egbo of the U's was perhaps guilty of not doing better when given the opportunity to head at goal from six yards out - but he could only head over when given the opportunity.
In truth, the Royals would be the happier of the two teams to hear the half time whistle after a tough first half in Essex.
Half-time: Colchester United 1-0 Reading FC
Royals boss Rubén Sellés made two changes at half time to try an give his side a way back into the tie, with Adrian Akande and Emmanuel Osho making way for Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Mamadi Camara respectively.
There was a signal of positive intent from the Royals six minutes into the second period. Tidy link up play from Camara and Knibbs down the right hand side allowed the latter an opportunity to cross to the expectant Jayden Wareham in the centre. The forward managed to latch onto the ball into the box, however his touch skewed out of play for a goalkick.
The positive early signs proved to be a false dawn however, as the U's doubled their lead from the penalty spot. Jack Payne made no mistake from the spot after Edwards for the hosts was felled inside the area, making a tougher task for the Royals.
Not ones to shirk a challenge however, a way back into the game was garnered in stunning style courtesy of the boot of Charlie Savage. A corner from the Royals could only be half cleared, the Welsh international settled himself and fired a half volley into the top right hand corner of Matt Macey's net.
Just eight minutes later we had parity in the form of a trademark Lewis Wing free kick. From 25 yards out, the skipper took site of goal to dispatch a clever freekick around the wall and into a helpless Macey's bootom right hand corner.
It could have got better for the resurgent Royals when Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan was able to get his head on a Harlee Dean cross into the box, but his effort would go agonisingly wide with just six minutes to go.
With eight minutes singalled by the referee Neil Hair, Savage almost bagged his double and the winner for his team. Superb interplay from Amadou Mbengue and Mamadi Camara saw the latter cut the ball back from the byline to Savage. His shot looked to be heading in but it was blocked away.
There was nothing to separate the two teams after a significant period of stoppage time, so the tie would be settled by penalties.
Full-time: Colchester United 2-2 Reading
In the shoot-out, our clinical hosts proved to have too much from 12 yards out for our young Royals. Four perfect penalties from the hosts were enough following misses from Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Amadou Mbengue, and the Royals bowed out of the Carabao Cup in Round One.
Full-time: Colchester United (4) 2-2 (3) Reading
Colchester United: Macey, Iandolo (Terry 62'), Kelleher, Bishop (Read 46'), Tovide (Ihionvien 46'), Payne (Oni 78'), Hopper (Gordon 62'), Egbo, Hunt, Edwards, Woodward
Unused subs: Smith, Bendle, Greenidge, Thorn, Oni
Goals: Hopper (2'), Payne (55' P)
Yellow: Ihionvien (90+9'), Kelleher (90+9')
Reading: Boyce-Clarke, Abrefa (Mbengue 75'), Dean, Knibbs (Elliott 72'), Savage, Wareham, Wing ©, Garcia, Kanu (Bindon 32'), Akande (Ehibhatiomhan 46'), Osho (Camara 46')
Unused subs: Pereira, Tuma, Ahmed, Sackey
Goals: Savage (65'), Wing 73')
Yellow: Kanu (28'), Savage (45+1'),