Reading rampant in Portugal

Reading took no prisoners in their ‘friendly’ demolition job of Portuguese side Olhanense, winning 5-1.

Nigel Adkins opted to start with the team that played from 60 minutes in our previous friendly with Belenenses, meaning the likes of Royston Drenthe, Wayne Bridge and Adam Le Fondre started the game. However, it wasn’t the best start for the Royals, as the home side took the lead after naive defending, Goncalves had a simple tap in.

Reading were struggling and could have been further behind in Portugal. Despite this, Adam Le Fondre scored the equaliser on 30 minutes, tapping in from Jake Taylor’s parried shot. The turnaround was then completed just before half time, as Gorkss nodded home, following Alex Pearce’s header across goal from a corner.

Into the second period, Drenthe got his first goal in a Reading shirt in impressive fashion – driving inside from the right, before firing past former Portugal international Ricardo at the near post. Further goals from the impressive wing duo of McCleary and Obita added gloss to the scoreline, in what was a dominant last half an hour to the fixture.

On the whole, a great workout against a top division Portuguese side. Interestingly enough, we played Olhanenese last year in a friendly and drew 1-1 and that was with a supposed ‘Premier League’ squad. To win a year on, 5-1 under a new manager and a new philosophy, is it really any coincidence? You make your own mind up.

Reading: Federici, Kelly, Gorkss, Pearce, Bridge, Akpan, Karacan, Drenthe, McAnuff, J Taylor, Le Fondre

Reading on 60 minutes: S Taylor; Gunter, Mariappa, Morrison, Cummings, Guthrie, Williams, McCleary, Obita, Blackman, Pogrebnyak