Royals draw in opening Portugal friendly

Reading drew 1-1 with Portuguese side CDR Quarteirense in the opening game of their pre-season tour with Portugal.


Royals boss Brian McDermott opted to play two different sides in each half of this game, except for goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen, who played the entire game after returning from a knee injury suffered last season. The first-half was very uninspiring from both sides, with striker Jason Roberts hitting the post in the only major action of the half.


The second period however came alight, with veteran defender Ian Harte opening the scoring with a 20-yard trademark free-kick. Reading looked in complete control of the game, before the third-division Portuguese side equalised after a long, hopeful ball down the middle was lobbed over Andersen. The impressive duo Le Fondre and McCleary came close but couldn’t give the Royals the win they deserved.


New striker Pavel Pogrebnyak was not involved, with Chris Gunter and Simon Church nursing slight knocks picked up in training. The only worry for the Royals was an injury suffered to winger Jimmy Kebe, who had to come off early in the first-half due to a hamstring problem. The Malian will be assessed tomorrow by medical staff.


Reading first-half: Andersen, Cummings, Mariappa, Pearce, Shorey, Kebe, Guthrie, Leigertwood, Robson-Kanu, Antonio, Roberts


Reading second-half: Andersen, Gunnarsson, Gorkss, Morrison, Harte, McCleary, McAnuff (c), Tabb, Obita, Hunt, Le Fondre