Reading scored two second-half goals as they produced one of the close football results of the weekend in the Championship. After a cautious first half hour, Watford took the lead when Ismaila Sarr scored from close range after a superb team move. Three minutes into the second half, defender Ryan Porteous, making his Watford debut, increased the lead with a glancing header. But Reading narrowed the gap thanks to a Tom Ince penalty in the 66th minute, and a brilliant Jeff Hendrick strike leveled the score 10 minutes from time. Since the second tier resumed after the World Cup break, Watford had only won three of its eight league games. Reading’s performance had been dismal as well; they had gone four league games without a victory. At the SCL Stadium, Reading made a respectable but unspectacular start without the suspended Andy Carroll up front.
Watford dominated a large portion of the opening build-up play, but they were unable to significantly advance into the home area. Just after the 15-minute mark, Ince ignited the home team with a frantic surge at the Watford box. Attempting to score with his right foot, he unleashed a low shot, but goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann made a wonderful stop to deflect it for a corner. Soon after, Ince got involved once more, cutting in perilously from the left, only for his cross to be saved at the last second. Sarr’s attempt to curl in a shot from 20 yards for Watford’s response went way wide and did not trouble the home keeper Joe Lumley.
Sarr forced a fantastic stop from Lumley as Watford immediately recovered and extended their advantage in the 48th minute. Right-handed corner kicker Matheus Martins whipped it in, and center-back Porteous, a former Hibernian player, rose unopposed to nod beyond Lumley. After Craig Cathcart unceremoniously hauled down Shane Long in the box, Ince converted the penalty kick for his sixth goal of the year as Watford appeared to be cruising to victory. When Hendrick, who was unmarked, stunningly volleyed in Ince’s deep corner that was way beyond the far post in the 80th minute, Reading had equalized.
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