Royals Earn Cup Replay

A courageous performance from a makeshift Royals outfit earned a fifth round replay against the giants of Manchester, and a potential quarter-final tie against the winner of Middlesbrough and West Brom, who have a replay of their own to battle out.

A perfectly placed header from Icelandic utility-man Brynjar Gunnarsson was enough to cancel out Michael Carrick`s spectacular first half drive, and sent an invitation to Sir Alex and his men for a second visit of the season to the Madejski Stadium.

Prior to the game, popular opinion amongst pundits and writers alike was that Reading manager Steve Coppell`s selection policy was detrimental to the oldest cup competition in the world. Understandably, though, Manchester United chief Sir Alex Ferguson did not share the same view, and was instead cautious of a Reading team whose form since the turn of the year betters that of his own side`s by way of dropping only two points.

The Royals started the game as the better team, but despite getting into some promising early positions on the flanks, the final ball was lacking slightly.

It was the Red Devils who had the first real opportunity on goal though, as they started to find their feet and take control of the game. Australian goalkeeper Adam Federici was forced into action on the fifteen-minute mark, producing a smart save as Andre Bikey`s attempted clearance was forced goalwards by Ole Gunnar Solksjear.

At the other end, Dave Kitson, playing as a loan striker, was denied by a very tight offside call from the linesman. The Royals looked fairly solid in defence, though, with Brynjar Gunnarsson in particular looking impressive and assured.

The home team were enjoying the majority of the possession, but they couldn`t force a way through a stern Royals backline. Frenchman Louis Saha shot hide and wide with his first effort of the match.

Park Ji-Sung turned a decent change well over from Saha`s cross, under pressure from a defender. There was more great defending when Bikey, and then De La Cruz both put in brilliant last-ditch blocks inside the Reading area.

Solksjear had a goal chalked off for offside after Andre Bikey`s clearance was charged down by Park, and the Cameroonian`s hoof rebounded into the Norwegian`s path. Solksjear finished coolly only to look up to see the linesman`s flag raised.

The Royals then had a brilliant chance to take the lead when Ecuadorian fullback Ulises De La Cruz played a delightful one-two with John Oster, and burst into the United box. He beat a man before striking for goal, but the angle was tight and a lay-off to the well positioned Dave Kitson would have been the better option. Instead, his shot skewed wide of the near post.

Bikey then blocked another effort by Saha as the Royals continued to frustrate the team in red.

As the half time whistle approached, the efficient Nicky Shorey had a half chance when he volleyed a looping ball towards goal. The effort lacked any real pace though, and was easy takings for Tomas Kuszczak.

In the second minute of what was only meant to one of stoppage time, the Royal`s resistance was breached. Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been well shackled up until this stage, went on a typically probing run before laying the ball off to Michael Carrick on the edge of the area. The England midfielder hit a first time drive into the bottom corner from 25-yards, and a crowded area meant that Federici stood no chance as he saw the ball late.

The goal, and the timing of it, was unfortunate for Reading, who seemed as if they would go in at the interval on a level basis.

United came out after the break obviously buoyed by their goal, and Ronaldo saw a shot deflected wide by Ivar Ingimarsson.

Seol Ki-Hyeon`s cross from deep looked to have been problematic for Kuszczak in the United goal, bit his looping aerial ball dropped harmlessly as it sailed just over the back post.

Kuszczak made a brilliant piece of distributing to release Park down the right for a quick counter attack, and his blind pass released Ronaldo inside the Reading box. The Portuguese winger had a golden chance to put the result out of sight, but a deft touch from Adam Federici took his low effort wide of the upright.

Ronaldo then saw a shot from 20-yards fizz wide, after Louis Saha had won an aerial ball ahead of Ingimarsson.

United were left to rue their squandered chances at the Royals pulled level just moments later.

South Korea`s Seol Ki-Hyeon did well to force a corner on the Reading right, and John Oster swung in an enticing delivery. Gunnarsson, unmarked from 12-yards, rose well to meet the ball and send it rifling into the top corner, past both Kuszczak and Fletcher on the United goal-line.

The Icelander was fully deserving of his goal after an impeccable display, and it was a testament to the Royals` team spirit that they`d clawed themselves level after the Red Devils had controlled much of the contest.

Sir Alex Ferguson responded by making a triple substitution that had Reading fans green with envy – Henrik Larsson, Paul Scholes, and Patrice Evra were introduced with seventeen minutes remaining.

It was the Royals, though, who came close to snatching the tie when Kitson chased down Nemanja Vidic in possession, but his stabbed shot was no more than a couple of feet wide.

Federici then produced a world class save to deny the newly introduced Henrik Larsson. The Swedish striker hit a first time shot from a cross from inside the area, but the big Australian stopper got down tremendously to tip his effort round the upright. Both United and Reading fans rose in tandem to applaud the save.

Stephen Hunt was introduced, and his first contribution was to release Seol after robbing Flether of the ball. The Korean`s cross narrowly evaded the on-rushing Kitson at the back post, and only a last ditch clearance from Wes Brown off the line denied Nicky Shorey as he followed up.

Hunt then went on a great run, but he lacked support and was eventually crowded out 30-yards from goal.

Louis Saha then showed what a striker he is by selfishly ignoring his teammates in favour of going for glory. Had he passed to either Larsson or Ronaldo, they would have been two against one and odds on to snatch a victory. Instead, he dragged his shot yards wide and the tie ended all square.

The Royals had battled hard and fully deserve a well-earned replay back at their Madejski Stadium.