120 Minutes in Swansea

By: Rob | August 29th, 2007

It sounds like this post should feature Matt Pinfield, but sadly, it does not. Reading needed two hours to eliminate League One team Swansea from the Carling Cup yesterday, finally notching a Leroy Lita goal in the 105th minute. Not exactly the most inspiring of performances, on paper.

Paper’s all I have to work from, since this scintillating match was suprisingly not televised internationally, or anywhere, as far as I can figure. Instead I was left to squint at ESPN’s thrilling Gameday commentary, watching Ulises De La Cruz make about 75 throw-ins (attacking). But some worrisome stats are available: Swansea held 59% of possession, outshot Reading 22 to 15, and by all accounts dominated the match, save for putting the ball in the goal.

Some other notes:

- Reading wore their sweet new away jerseys for the first competitive match, peep them here.

- Sam Sodje, who has still not moved to Sheffield Wednesday for some reason, got a start, and was red-carded off by the 60th minute. Better make that move soon, Sam, I don’t think you’ll be sniffing the field again anytime soon for Reading. By the way, if you’re keeping score at home, Reading have now finished 60% of their matches this young season with 10 men.

- Due credit to Lita and Dave Kitson for combining on the late goal…both men have had limited time on the field this season (Kitson only had literally 45 seconds before getting red-carded against United) but played the full two hours, scoring late. Our attack may be worrisome thus far, but the fitness of Reading players has been top-notch, as usual.

- Cheers also to Adam Federici, the Australian goalkeeper, for a clean sheet. With the solid play of Marcus Hahnemann, Federici doesn’t get a lot of time with the first team, but at 22, he’s likely the face of the future in the Reading net.

- Swansea has a player named Angel Rangel. It’s probably not pronounced to rhyme, but I still consider it chuckleworthy. I have a soft spot for teams like Swansea, with snazzy logos and hilariously unthreatening nicknames (the Swans, obviously). This love is likely born of the fact that lower-league sides are the only teams I can ever get a job at in my games of Championship Manager. Fun Swansea facts: it’s one of those Welsh teams in the English League, Frank Lampard and Giorgio Chinaglia both played there, they have a horrifying mascot.

- The first Reading Reserves game of the season is today, vs. Birmingham’s leftovers. DID YOU KNOW: the Reading reserve team won the Premier League Reserve title last season? Me either, until just now!