READING’s Wembley hopes in the EFL Trophy were ended as they lost out to Brighton & Hove Albion U21s in a penalty shootout.
After a drab goalless draw across 90 minutes, it was the Seagulls who held their nerve to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Royals keeper Joel Pereiara made two impressive stops in the shootout, but the Royals missed three of their five penalties which saw them eliminated as Brighton won 3-2 on spot kicks.
Despite being absent from the touchline due to serving a one match ban, manager Ruben Selles made five changes to the side that beat Exeter City 3-2 on new year’s day.
There was a start for central midfielder Charlie Savage, who netted in the last knockout round as the Royals defeated Charlton Athletic on penalties.
Playing at the Amex Stadium, a place in the last eight on the EFL Trophy was on the line.
Despite dominating proceedings in the first-half, Reading were unable to find the back of the net.
Brighton’s young team, following in the footsteps of the first-team, insisted on playing the ball out from the back.
Despite their bravery and persistence of playing attractive football, it was sometimes to their detriment as they presented Reading several opportunities to win the ball high in Brighton’s half.
Goalkeeper Tom McGill’s misdirected kick was intercepted by Lewis Wing, but he recovered to thwart the midfielder with an impressive stop.
After another misplaced pass, McGill did well to amend for his error to parry away Femi Azeez’s effort and the resulting corner was headed over the top by Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.
Brighton’s best chance came when Noel Atom looked to bear down on goal only to be caught by Nelson Abbey who used his speed to get Reading out of trouble.
The Royals had a good chance shortly after the restart when Wing fed the ball to Azeez who struck over the top.
The Seagulls had opportunities of their own, the clearest coming for substitute Bailey Smith who almost got away from the Reading defence before Tyler Bindon made a crucial intervention.
Bindon went close to breaking the deadlock when his header bounced back off the post.
Reading made their first changes with 20 minutes to go which saw Jayden Wareham and Caylan Vickers replace Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Paul Mukairu.
With the scores still level, two more substitutions saw Tivonge Rushesha and Clinton Mola replace Wing and Mbengue.
A dismal second-half came to an end which meant the contest had to be decided from the spot.
The Royals missed three of their five spot kicks, and despite two saves from Perieria, they were knocked out with a 3-2 loss.
Brighton U21s: McGill, Hinchy, Chouchane, Jackson, Barrington, Mullins, O’Mahony, McConville, Slater, Atom, Flower
Subs: Reid, Knight, Ifill, Smith, Tasker, Howell, Simmonds
Reading: Pereira, Dorsett, Abbey, Bindon, Mbengue, Craig, Wing, Savage, Mukairu, Azeez, Ehibhatiomhan
Subs: Button, Mola, Holmes, McIntyre, Wareham, Rushesha, Vickers
