Reading and Wycombe shared six points in Group South of the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, with the hosts prevailing 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw across ninety minutes. The result keeps both sides level on six points from three games, though Reading move into third while Wycombe hold second place by virtue of a superior goal difference.
And here's the thing about this one — the match decided itself at the business end rather than across the full ninety. A. Quitirna opened the scoring for Reading in the seventy-first minute, a strike that settled the home side into a rhythm they would not lose. L. Fraser then doubled the advantage four minutes later, and suddenly Wycombe needed to change their approach.
Wycombe responded with a wave of changes at the seventy-seventh minute, bringing on J. Grimmer, J. Mullins, J. Brown and H. Roberts in quick succession. It was a tactical shift that did not go unnoticed, though by then Reading had already established a cushion that would prove resilient. L. Fraser received a yellow card in the eighty-seventh minute as the home side closed the game out.
The extra time brought drama in the penalty area, where Reading's composure told. E. Tezgel missed the opening spot-kick, but C. Savage, C. Boyd-Munce and L. Fraser converted their attempts to give Reading a lead. Wycombe's P. Lane answered, but A. Hagelskjaer and L. Leahy both failed to find the net, and the tie was done.
To be fair, the statistics suggest Wycombe were the more active side across the ninety minutes. They registered fifty-two attacks to Reading's thirty-seven, and held fifty-three per cent of possession. Reading, however, were more clinical with their chances, landing six shots on target from eleven attempts compared to Wycombe's five from eight.
The victory extends Reading's unbeaten run to five games and sees them move ahead of Wycombe in the group standings. Wycombe's recent form has been inconsistent — a draw against Blackpool before defeats to Stevenage and losses elsewhere — whereas Reading have won two of their last three away from home.