Carlisle United progressed in the Emirates FA Cup after an incredible comeback in a 3-2 win after extra time against Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Regan Linney’s stunning hat-trick from the bench pulled United from the brink of defeat, having been 2-0 down with eight minutes to play, thanks to goals from Lewis Wing and Mark O’Mahoney for the Royals.
Mark Hughes made several changes from the Blues' 1-1 draw at Yeovil Town last time out, with Harvey Macadam, Harry Lewis, David Ajiboye, Junior Luamba and Luke Armstrong coming into the side.
Lewis Wing tested Lewis’ reflexes within two minutes, firing in a free-kick from the edge of the box, which the Blues stopper batted away.
Kamari Doyle thought he had given the Royals the lead in the 11th minute when a flowing move from the hosts was worked out to Matty Jacob, whose deflected cross found the attacker, who finished past Lewis. But referee Ruebyn Ricardo adjudged him to have handled the ball in the buildup.
Luamba had the Blues' first shot when the ball fell to him at the back post, but his low effort was directly at Jack Stevens in the Reading goal.
Leam Richardson’s side led in the 32nd minute through captain Wing, who picked up a loose ball from a corner and caressed his effort past the helpless Lewis.
Doyle combined with the lively Daniel Kyerewaa to set up Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, who could only scoop his shot over the bar.
Lewis produced a miraculous save to deny Ehibhatiomhan’s diving header with a strong left hand to push the ball wide.
Morgan Feeney found the net for the Blues on the stroke of half-time with a header from Chris Conn-Clarke’s free-kick delivery, but was ruled out for being fractionally offside.
HALF-TIME: Reading 1–0 Carlisle United
United started the second half full of confidence, with Conn-Clarke driving at the Royals' defence before curling an effort wide while Armstrong flicked a header over the bar from Luamba’s cross.
Armstrong got onto Luamba’s cross but could only divert his header high over the bar.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 68th minute when a sharp move carved the United defence apart, allowing substitute O’Mahoney plenty of time and space to slot past Lewis.
Jacobs fired just over the bar following a corner before Ehibhatiomhan tested Lewis from range.
A quick spin from Luamba saw him break into the penalty area, but Stevens met his driven effort to the near post.
Linney reduced the deficit in the 92nd minute when Conn-Clarke’s free-kick was deflected into his path and he finished emphatically past Stevens.
The Blues' number ten drew the game level at the death, receiving the ball from Conn-Clarke and firing underneath Stevens.
FULL-TIME: Reading 2-2 Carlisle United
Linney made it three and grabbed his hat-trick in the fourth minute of extra-time, picking up the ball on the edge of the box and finding the bottom corner with a pinpoint strike.
Conn-Clarke was given the opportunity to try his luck from range with a free-kick, but bent his effort just wide of the upright.
HALF-TIME OF EXTRA TIME: Reading 2-3 Carlisle United
Doyle tried to reignite the Royals in the second period of extra time, but shot high over the bar.
Charlie Savage had Lewis at full stretch to palm away his volley from the edge of the box as the Blues hung on for the win.
FULL-TIME OF EXTRA TIME: Reading 2-3 Carlisle United
Teams:
Reading: Stevens, Dorsett, Jacob, Savage, Ehibhatiomhan (Garcia 80), Wing, Kyerewaa (Camara 80), Yiadom (Abrefa 61), Strickland, Doyle (Tuma 110), Lane (O’Mahony 66)
Not used: Norcott, Ahmed, Borgnis, Spencer
Carlisle United: Lewis, Harper, Feeney, Hayden, Williams, Gilliead (Wearne 80), Macadam (Whelan 70), Conn-Clarke (Grant 110), Luamba (Davies 80), Ajiboye (Linney 70), Armstrong (Kelly 70)
Not used: Breeze, Thomas, Murray
Goals:
Reading – (Wing 32) (O’Mahoney 68)
Carlisle United – (Linney 90+2, 90+9, 94 aet)
Yellow cards:
Reading – (Yiadom 50) (Garcia 83) (Richardson 87) (Savage 91) (Abrefa 104)
Carlisle United – (Hayden 112) (Linney 114)
Red cards:
Reading – N/A
Carlisle United – N/A
Match officials:
Referee – Ruebyn Ricardo
Assistant Referee 1 – Samuel Fudge
Assistant Referee 2 – Peter Lowe
Fourth Official – Damith Bandara
Attendance:
3929 (529)
