Kick-off: 17:15
Venue: Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 24098
Referee: Walton, P

Live Commentary

90mins

FULL TIME: READING 1-1 MANCHESTER UNITED: The referee blows up for full time as Reading earn a crucial and memorable point.

88mins

Reading make their final change as Andre Bike replaces Murty.

85mins

United force another corner but again Reading are resolute at the back and clear the danger.

84mins

Reading makes a change as Stephen Hunt replaces Ki-Hyeon.

83mins

United continue to push forward but are struggling to break down a resolute Reading defence.

79mins

United go in search of the winner and Hahnemann does well to cut out Scholes' cross.

76mins

Reading make a change as Brynjar Gunnarsson replaces Lita.

73mins

READING 1-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (RONALDO): Ronaldo cuts in from the left wing before lashing a shot into the corner of the net

70mins

United make a double change as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and John O'Shea replace Fletcher and Heinze.

69mins

Scholes almost levels matters when his defelcted shot goes just wide of the post.

68mins

Reading push again and Ki-Hyeon's defelected shot goes safely into the arms of van der Sar.

67mins

Ki-Hyeon breaks down the right and earns the Royals a corner but van der Sar is on hand to gather Convey's cross.

63mins

Fletcher whips in a cross from the right but Hahnemann comes rushing off his line to take the ball off Saha's head.

59mins

United make a change as Louis Saha replaces Richardson.

56mins

Reading continue to apply the pressure but Sidwell's cross is poor and United clear.

52mins

Rooney whips in a cross but no-one can get on the end of it and Hahnemann easily gathers the ball.

50mins

United respond and Fletcher is unlucky to see his header fizz just wide.

48mins

READING 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED (DOYLE): Doyle keeps his nerve to fire home from the spot.

47mins

Reading are awarded a penalty after Gary Neville handles in the box.

46mins

The second half gets underway as Richardson sees his shot from the edge of the box go just over.

45mins

The referee blows up for half time.

44mins

Reading start to apply some pressure but United are managing to keep them at bay.

43mins

Rooney fires in a shot from the egde of the box but his effort is blocked an Reading clear.

40mins

Reading earn a corner as Gary Neville is forced to head clear Doyle's cross, the Reds deal with the cross and the danger passes.

36mins

Ronaldo again tries his luck from range but is way off target and the ball sailes high over the bar.

35mins

Rooney is caught just offside as he tries to latch on to Fletcher's reverse pass.

33mins

Scholes goes close when firing in a dipping shot that goes inches over the bar.

32mins

Ronaldo fires in a low cross from the left and Paul Scholes is inches away from opening the scoring.

28mins

Ki-Hyeon fires in a fierce shot from 18 yards that is heading for the corner of the net but van der Sar is on hand to pull off the save.

24mins

United earn a free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box but Reading are on hand to scramble Ronaldo's kick clear.

21mins

Ki-Hyeon whips in a cross from the right but the ball drops safely into the arms of van der Sar.

18mins

Reading almost take a shock lead when Bobby Convey springs the offside trap but Van der Sar is on hand to pull off a save.

16mins

Richardson goes down the other end and fires in another long-range shot which goes wide.

14mins

Reading hit back and Leroy Lita plays in a low dangerous cross but no-one is on hand the apply the finish.

12mins

It's all United as Rooney breaks into the box but his angled drive is tame and Hahnemann dives to his right to save.

11mins

Gabriel Heinze breaks down the left hand side but his cross is poor and goes out for a goal kick.

9mins

Ronaldo again tries his luck from range but this time his shot is poor and goes miles over the bar.

6mins

Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't quite get hold of his 25-yard shot and Hahnemann gets down well behind it.

4mins

Seol Ki-Hyeon tries to break away down the right for Reading but Gabriel Heinze is on hand to mop up at the back.

2mins

United go close as Marcus Hahnemann can only parry Wayne Rooney's stinging shot and Kieran Richardson almost puts in the rebound.

1mins

Manchester United get the game underway as the ball goes all the way back to Edwin Van der Sar.

Match Report

Reading came of age as a Premiership club as they deservedly held Manchester United to a draw at the Madejski Stadium.

United legend Steve Coppell nearly masterminded a glorious win over his former club as his Reading side led through a second-half Kevin Doyle penalty after Gary Neville had handled.

But the former Old Trafford winger was denied by a current United wide boy as Cristiano Ronaldo rescued the visitors with a superb strike 17 minutes from time.

Ronaldo brilliantly controlled a John O'Shea pass and cut inside Graeme Murty before unleashing a fierce low drive beyond the reach of Marcus Hahnemann in the Reading goal.

But Reading held on to secure a point, extending an unbeaten home run that stretches to the first day of last season.

The result had looked unlikely early on as United started at a fierce pace. Wayne Rooney's second minute shot was spilled by Hahnemann although the keeper redeemed himself by blocking the follow-up from Kieran Richardson.

But Reading composed themselves, with striker Leroy Lita looking lively as he gave United centre-back Gabriel Heinze a real headache.

The striker nearly set up Ki-Hyeon Seol with a neat low centre, although the South Korean winger could not get ahead of Heinze in time to turn the ball home.

And Reading were presented with a golden opportunity to break the deadlock on 18 minutes when Bobby Convey's flicked centre deflected into the path of Doyle, who took too long to set himself and saw his close-range effort well blocked by Edwin Van der Sar.

The United keeper then got down well to hold a stinging low drive from Seol as Reading began to grow in confidence.

But United served several reminders of their threat, Hahnemann spilling a fierce curling free-kick from Ronaldo, and was grateful to see his defenders hack the loose ball clear.

Hahnemann redeemed himself with a tremendous fingertip flick to take the ball off Paul Scholes' toes as the midfielder seemed certain to turn in Ronaldo's low cross.

But it was Reading that made the breakthrough three minutes into the second half, with the opportunity literally handed to them by England full-back Neville.

Opposite number Murty sent over a teasing cross from the right and the ball evaded everyone before bouncing off Neville's arm, referee Peter Walton instantly pointing to the spot.

Doyle, who had missed Reading's Carling Cup shootout win over Darlington in midweek, stepped up to slam home the spot-kick, although Van der Sar got a hand to the effort before it crept into the corner.

Predictably, United hit back menacingly, Rooney pulling the ball back invitingly, only for the hapless Richardson to manage a complete air kick.

Centre-back Ivar Ingimarsson brilliantly blocked a Scholes shot when the midfielder looked destined to score, but United finally got back on level terms on 73 minutes.

Ronaldo pulled a high ball down brilliantly and had space to run at Murty before firing into the far corner with Hahnemann unable to react quickly enough.

Substitute John O'Shea might have stolen all three points for United late on, but his free header from a Michael Carrick corner was flicked away by the impressive Murty.

Reading Team

Manchester United Team

Reading

Manchester United

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides