Reading U21s 3-4 Sunderland U21s (AET): Player Ratings

Ross’ ratings as the Royals are beaten in extra time by the Black Cats at the SCL in the semi-finals of the Premier League 2 playoffs.

Coniah Boyce-Clarke: 7

Found himself in a shooting gallery throughout the first half. Couldn’t do much about the two efforts that did go past him in the first half, and made two excellent saves to keep Reading in the game. One particularly excellent save saw him get down low to his left to stop a poacher’s flick in the box.

Often came very far out of his net in build-up and split the centre-backs when Reading had spells of possession. Punched a few set-pieces out from underneath his crossbar. Made another great save late on and was given a difficult task to save Sunderland’s 3-3 equaliser when Reading’s defence was pulled apart.

John Ryan: 7

Wants to attack and has a good cross on him, swinging it in with lots of outswing a few times. Pretty neat and tidy on the ball when it got to him out on the wing, but did make a mistake at the back that could have cost Reading a goal around the midway point in the second half - he was lucky Sunderland played themselves offside in their haste to capitalise.

Grew into the game more after the subs were made and became more important to Reading’s overall performance as the game went on, and has the right mindset for an attacking full-back.

Michael Stickland: 6

Got onto the end of one of Carson’s bombardments into the box and went so close, ruffling the side netting.

Louie Holzman: 6

Generally good in buildup during Reading’s phases in possession but often meant he was caught wide if Sunderland got a quick transition. Helped Reading to clean up a few mistakes.

Matty Carson: 6

The definition of a trebuchet. As we saw in the men’s team earlier this season, Carson has excellent delivery from set-pieces and worked his magic in the first half when Reading got those chances. Truthfully, Carson was just about Reading’s only threat in the first half, and delivered the free-kick into the box that Wareham would eventually finish off.

Capped all of that off with an absolutely fantastic free-kick up and over the wall from close range to easily beat the keeper and give Reading their first lead of the game.

Scrapped through the final minutes of extra time and played up top with an injury to his calf as Reading had no subs left. Gave everything in his final appearance for the club.

On the flipside, he was poor defensively.

Jacob Borgnis: 5

Scrapped well for Reading throughout and played some smart passes as Reading chased the game in the second half.

Sent off at the end of the first half of extra time, when Boyce-Clarke’s pass didn’t quite reach him, and he was forced to pull the onrushing attacker down.

Charlie Wellens: 5

Stepped in well a few times, but also mistimed a few of his presses and let Sunderland get free out wide too easily. Had to be withdrawn with injury in the first half.

Adrian Akande: 7

Pretty bypassed by Sunderland in the press in the first half, but did move well in between the lines when the ball came towards him and was able to help Reading move the ball quickly.

Scored a fantastic goal in the second half, showing blistering pace to meet Tuma’s ball forwards, burst into the box and around the keeper, then agonisingly made the fans wait before he tapped it home at the last possible second.

Had to be withdrawn from the game in extra time but put in the best attacking performance of Reading’s starting wide players.

Jeremiah Okine-Peters: 5

Spent the first five minutes as part of a really effective press that had Sunderland deep in their own half, but really struggled to affect the game in the rest of his 60 minutes on the field.

John Clarke: 6

Rose well to power a header back across the box and pick up an assist when it reached Wareham at the back post. Powered another header deep into the goalmouth just before the hour mark that was unlucky not to find its way in.

Plays with a lot of personality, and certainly let the ref hear it when he was taken down in the box but saw his penalty appeal waved away.

Jaydon Wareham: 6

Pretty isolated through much of the first half, but took his chance well, smashing the ball into the roof of the net from the header back across goal.

Potentially lucky to only be booked for a bad challenge in the midfield in the second half, but grew into the game, and helped Reading to build out as the outlet ball a few times.

Subs

Basil Tuma: 7

Made a huge difference to Reading’s buildup when he came on and helped his team to control the middle of the pitch. Played the ball forwards to Akande with good vision to earn an assist and help Reading draw level.

Got himself space inside the box at one point to try a curled back post finish, but mishit his shot.

Jay Senga: 5

Showed great anticipation to jump in well and win Reading a ball in a 50/50 challenge, but was then occasionally careless with the resulting pass.

Tyler Sackey: 5

Unfortunately unable to make much impact in the middle of the park once Borgnis had been dismissed.

Sam Paul: 5

Forced to defend out of position as a right winger, replacing the injured Akande, before switching to left-back late on due to Carson’s injury.