Royals record a second victory in a week!
Reading's return to RG2 after three months away saw them claim a credible victory in a hard fought tie with Queens Park Rangers.
Femi Azeez's coolly slotted strike two minutes into the second half was enough to secure victory, and see Rubén Sellés' side continue a strong run of results in our pre-season preparations.
The full match report can be found below.
First Half
In the Berkshire sun, the first action in RG2 for 2024/25 got underway, with the Royals kicking us off shooting towards the south end of the stadium.
The opening fifteen minutes saw both teams jostle for position trying to gain a stranglehold on the game with little to separate the side and no chances of note.
The first keeper to be called into action was Joel Pereira in the Reading goal, who managed to make himself big enough to deflect a close range effort after a crossed free kick on the right hand side. The follow up was put wide, but it was acadaemic given the offside flag was raised.
It would spark the visitors into a period on top of the game, with Pereira able to safely and easily smother a long range effort for the corner of the box. The West London outfit would enjoy a spell of possession without creating a chance of note from open play, however a crushing tackle from youngster Abraham Kanu would get the Royals faithful off their feet in a bid to turn the tide on the match.
It spurred on Rubén Sellés side to create our first chance of the game. Space opened up for Jayden Wareham on the edge of the box, however the lively striker dragged his effort wide of the left hand post.
A knock to a member of the QPR backline offered both teams some respite on a hot afternoon in RG2. Shortly after the unexpected break, Kelvin Ehibatiomhan cut inside in trademark fashion in search of getting a shot off at goal, but his effort was blocked by the closely marking defender.
The best chance of the half came in the 38th minute and went the way of the visitors, with Alfie Lloyd pouncing on a loose ball in the box to bear down on goal. As he had done earlier in the half however, our Portuguese shot stopper Pereira made himself big to thwart the danger before the loose ball was cleared for a corner.
Pereira would be at his acrobatic best to keep out a Michael Frey header with just three minutes of the half remaining. There was little he could do two minutes later when Paul Smyth raced forward and hit a volleyed effort goalwards, fortunately for the Royals his looping effort bounced down off the crossbar and was adjudged not to have crossed the line by the officials - a let off on the stroke of half time.
The half time whistle came with the side goalless, a good runout so far for both sides.
Half Time: Reading 0-0 QPR
Second Half
The second period sprung to life after what had been a cagey game up to that point, with the Royals claiming the lead just two minutes into the half. Femi Azeez was able to latch onto a ball over the top, get the better of his marker, and calmly slot into the bottom corner past a helpless Nardi in the QPR goal!
The game looked to revert back to the same pattern as the opening period. Charlie Savage went into the book for clipping Paul Smyth as he looked to steal a march, and the same player tested Pereira in the Royals goal, but the Portuguese was once more able to preserve his clean sheet with a smart save.
No less than five changes were made by Rubén Sellés as he looked to spread the vital match minutes across the squad, with Michael Craig, Emmanuel Osho, Harvey Knibbs, Mamadi Camara and Sam Smith entering the fray.
The visitors had the ball in the net on the 75th minute mark when substitute Rayan Kolli looked to try and beat the offside trap, much to the Algerian's disappointment however, the linesman had their flag up early.
With five minutes remaining, two Academy products showed their credentials as we enter the new campaign. Initially Abraham Kanu flew into back-to-back challenges to win the ball off the visitors in a dangerous area, before Emmanuel Osho picked up possession at left back to start a mazy run that would see him travel the length of the pitch to the edge of the QPR box. The half chance would come to nothing, but it was a positive showing from two youngsters who will have aspirations to break into the First Team this term.
The match would end without incident, and the Royals can walk away happy with another victory against second tier opposition, whilst also gaining hugely valuable minutes in the legs ahead of the big kick off against Birmingham City in two weeks time.
Full Time: Reading 1-0 QPR
Reading: Pereira, Rushesha (Craig 63'), Garcia (Osho 63'), Elliott (Camara 73'), Mbengue, Kanu (Dean 89'), Ehibhatiomhan (Knibbs 73'), Savage, Wareham (Smith 63'), Wing, Azeez
Unused Substitutes: Boyce-Clarke, Senga, Akande
Goals: Azeez (47')
Yellow: Savage (60'), Azeez (90+2'), Smith (90+2')
QPR: Nardi, Dunne, Colback (Dixon-Bonner 80'), Cook, Clarke-Salter, Field (Morrison 80'), Smyth (Dykes 68'(Larkeche 86')), Frey (Celar 58'), Lloyd (Kolli 68'), Paal, Andersen (Santos 80')
Unused Substitutes: Walsh, Cannon
Attendance: 4,332
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