- Holland (27), Gray (42 pen), Varney (69), Bouazza (72)
- Sonko (45), Hunt (54 pen)
- Date:2008-08-23
- Kick-off:12:45
- Venue:The Valley
- Attendance:20020
- Referee:Mason, L
Live Commentary
90mins
The ref has blown his whistle for full time.
90mins
The referee has booked Noel Hunt.
89mins
Charlton are replacing Yassin Moutaouakil with Jose Vitor Moreira Semedo.
85mins
Leroy Lita is being taken off, Alex Pearce has come on in his place.
84mins
It's red. He's off. Ibrahima Sonko has been sent off.
82mins
Lloyd Sam is being taken off, Darren Ambrose has come on in his place.
78mins
Kevin Doyle is replaced by Shane Long.
73mins
Bobby Convey is being taken off, Noel Hunt has come on in his place.
72mins
Goal!! Hameur Bouazza scores for Charlton.
69mins
Goal!! Charlton have scored with Luke Varney putting it in the back of the net.
67mins
Ibrahima Sonko goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
54mins
Hameur Bouazza goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
54mins
Stephen Hunt takes a penalty for Reading and scores!.
46mins
The second half is under way with the score currently at 2 v 1.
45mins
Half time whistle is blown by L Mason
45mins
Goal!! Ibrahima Sonko scores for Reading.
42mins
Andy Gray takes a penalty for Charlton and scores!.
27mins
Goal!! Charlton have scored with Matt Holland putting it in the back of the net.
0mins
It's 12:45am on Saturday, August 23rd, the match has kicked off.
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Match Report
Charlton Athletic's new-look team gave a pulsating performance to send relegated Reading to their first Championship defeat of the season in a match full of goals and controversy.
The Addicks squandered a two-goal lead as the visitors fought back to level the scores, but the home side went on to score two more to gain a deserved 4-2 victory.
Veteran midfielder Matt Holland put the home side in front from close range after Reading's goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann could not hold on to Luke Varney's shot and Holland was on hand to tap home only his 14th goal in 181 Charlton appearances.
Reading had a great chance to level the scores when Kevin Doyle was brought down by Yassin Moutaouakil and he took the penalty himself, but thrashed the spot-kick against the crossbar.
Charlton increased their lead from the penalty spot, Andy Gray making no mistake after Varney had been brought down by Ibrahima Sonko just inside the area.
Sonko redeemed himself in injury time in the first half when he powered home a header after Charlton failed to clear their lines.
Referee Lee Mason then gave Reading a second penalty for what looked like an innocuous challenge by Jonathan Fortune on Leroy Lita.
Charlton keeper Nicky Weaver saved Stephen Hunt's spot-kick, but the referee ordered it to be retaken because Weaver had moved off his line and this time Hunt scored.
Charlton were not to be denied however and Varney restored their lead with a brilliant header from Lloyd Sam's cross and recent signing Hameur Bouazza put the icing on the cake for the home side with a powerful left-foot volley from Nicky Bailey's cross.
Reading's woes were compounded seven minutes from time when Sonko was sent off for a second bookable offence after a reckless tackle.
Charlton boss Alan Pardew, who has had to sell a number of players on high wages, would have been delighted to have got the better of one of the sides he formerly managed.
Meanwhile, Steve Coppell will be wondering how his defence conceded four goals, having kept a clean sheet in their opening two games of the season.
Charlton Athletic Team
Reading Team
Charlton Athletic | Reading |
Corners
| 4 | 7 |
Fouls
| 3 | 10 |
Goal attempts
| 14 | 11 |
Shots off target
| 3 | 4 |
Offsides
| 7 | 0 |
