Championship - Tuesday 16th May 2017, 7:45 PM
Reading1
(0)
-
(0)
0
Fulham
Attendance: 22044
Referee: Martin Atkinson(West Yorkshire)
Match events
38
McDonald (f)
Kermorgant pen
49
Kermorgant (f)
51
Moore (f)
52
58
Johansen (f)
58
Kebano
58
Piazon
58
Ayité
58
Sessegnon
65
Malone (d)
Blackett
66
McCleary
66
73
Malone
73
Martin
Swift
75
Kelly
75
Kermorgant
89
Mendes
89
Match review
Match Report
Reading (0) 1-0 (0) Fulham
Championship PlayOff 2nd Leg 1617 at Madejski Stadium
Tuesday 16th May 2017 KO: 19:45
Referee:
Martin Atkinson(West Yorkshire)
|
| Match Stats |
Reading
|
Fulham
|
| Goals |
(0) 1 |
0 (0) |
| |
| Scorers |
Kermorgant
pen 49 |
|
| |
| Goal attempts |
12 |
19 |
| On target |
7 |
6 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
58% |
32% |
| Possession |
40% |
60% |
| Passes |
309 |
447 |
| Pass Success |
74% |
83% |
| Crosses |
13 |
38 |
| Crosses Success |
31% |
21% |
| Corners |
3 |
16 |
| Tackles |
15 |
14 |
| Tackles Success |
53% |
50% |
| Saves |
6 |
6 |
| Fouls |
10 |
11 |
| Offsides |
3 |
3 |
| Yellows |
2 |
3 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Yann Kermorgant is one step closer to ending his career in the Premier League after firing Reading into the Championship play-off final.
The 35-year-old striker, who plans to retire at the end of next season, scored the goal which secured a 1-0 semi-final second-leg win over Fulham at a packed Madejski Stadium.
Kermorgant's nerveless penalty, at the start of the second half, means the Royals will face either Sheffield Wednesday or Huddersfield at Wembley on May 29 for a place in the top flight.
There was little to separate these two sides in the first leg, which finished 1-1 at Craven Cottage on Saturday, and ultimately it took a mistake to settle the tie.
Fuham defender Tomas Kalas was the fall guy as he stuck out an arm to control the ball, allowing Kermorgant to drill home from the spot.
The Frenchman looked like a man on a mission from the start, forcing a fine save from Marcus Bettinelli from the edge of the area in the opening moments.
But Fulham gradually grew into the game and full-back Ryan Fredericks was allowed to run unchallenged into the box and fire in a shot which Ali Al Habsi unconvincingly fumbled on to his near post.
Al Habsi made a better fist of Scott Malone's low drive and then pulled off a fine double save to keep out Tom Cairney's free-kick and Sone Aluko's follow-up.
After the break Kermorgant broke down the right and swung in an inviting cross towards the unmarked Lewis Grabban, but Bettinelli kept out his header.
The prospect of extra-time and penalties was beginning to loom, with many fearing a long night in store as Reading have missed six spot-kicks this season and Fulham an amazing nine.
As it was, a penalty did decide the outcome when, in the 49th minute, Kalas inexplicably handled the ball as he attempted to run it out of the penalty area and referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot.
Kermorgant stepped up and made no mistake, crashing home his 19th goal of the season underneath the diving Bettinelli.
They should have been two up when Chris Gunter overlapped and fizzed in a low cross but John Swift hit it straight at the Fulham keeper.
However, Reading were clinging on for the final 20 minutes, with Al Habsi pulling off a stunning save to tip Kevin McDonald's shot over the crossbar and ensure it will be Jaap Stam and the Royals running out at Wembley at the end of the month.
Reading : Al Habsi, Ilori, Moore, van den Berg, Gunter, Evans, Williams, Blackett (McCleary 66), Swift (Kelly 75), Kermorgant (Mendes 89), Grabban,
Unused substitutes: Jaakkola, Gravenberch, Beerens, Popa
Goals:
Kermorgant pen 49 (converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner. Penalty conceded by Tomas Kalas with a hand ball in the penalty area.)
Booked: Kermorgant (51,f), Moore (52,f)
Fulham : Bettinelli, Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Malone (Martin 73), Cairney, McDonald, Johansen, Kebano (Piazon 58), Sone Aluko, Floyd Ayité (Ryan Sessegnon 58),
Unused substitutes: Button, Odoi, Parker, Cyriac
Booked: McDonald (38,f), Johansen (58,f), Malone (65,d)
Referee:
Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)
Attendance: 22,044