Matej Vydra hat-trick inspires Reading to victoryReading booked an Emirates FA Cup fourth-round meeting with Walsall with a 5-2 victory over 10-man Huddersfield at the Madejski Stadium.Huddersfield had led 2-0 after only 15 minutes of the third-round replay clash with goals from Jamie Paterson and Tommy Smith.But they lost Jonathan Hogg, red carded for a last-man challenge on Matej Vydra, and Lucas Piazon reduced the gap from the resultant free kick.Down to 10 men, Huddersfield were unable to cope in the second half, with Vydra helping himself to an expertly executed hat-trickAlex Fernandez added Reading's fifth in stoppage time.Huddersfield went into the game on a six-match unbeaten run.Reading had won only twice in seven matches since Brian McDermott was appointed as manager, for his second spell at the club, last month
The teams drew 2-2 in the first meeting, with Nakhi Wells rescuing Huddersfield with a 92nd-minute equaliser from the penalty spot.Reading, beaten FA Cup semi-finalists last season, had the first chance of the replay, with Piazon and Vydra combining well on the left.But Vydra's ball into the area carried too much pace and Hal Robson-Kanu was unable to reach it.Huddersfield then struck twice in seven minutes as they tore apart an apparently non-existent defence.In the eighth minute, Paterson exchanged passes with Wells before drilling the ball high into the net past Ali Al-Habsi.Then, in the 15th minute, shortly after Emyr Huws had nodded against the Reading crossbar, right back Tommy Smith beat Al-Habsi with a low, angled drive from wide on the right that flew in off the far post.Huddersfield were rampant and could have stretched their lead further, with Al Habsi saving well from Wells and Paterson.But Reading were handed a lifeline in the 27th minute, when midfielder Hogg was dismissed after pulling down Vydra as he skated past him towards the Huddersfield area.Two minutes later, on the restart from the free kick, Piazon guided home a superb set-piece effort from 25 yards
Huddersfield goalkeeper Joe Murphy barely moved.Reading, with the numerical advantage, failed to make it count before half time
Danny Williams drove high and wide when well placed.But they almost drew level soon after the break
Robson-Kanu headed powerfully goalwards from an Andrew Taylor cross only for Murphy to save brilliantly.Vydra then struck twice in four minutes to edge Reading ahead
First, in the 57th minute, he volleyed home precisely after Murphy had saved from Robson-Kanu.Then, also from close range, he tucked in a low cross from substitute Ola John.Vydra could have completed a hat-trick not long after but Murphy denied him with an agile stop.Little was seen of Huddersfield going forward but Wells could have equalised when his clever lob over Al-Habsi struck an upright and bounced to safety.But Vydra did complete his treble with a firm drive and Alex Fernandez added the fifth with a low 20-yard effort in stoppage time
Source : PA
Source: PA