Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CHEERS, MEITE!
Royals relieved as last-gasp Yakou keeps their play-off hopes alive
87 pen 1 1
YAKOU MEITE headed a 94th-minute leveller to keep Reading’s play-off hopes just about alive.
Having spent most of the second half pushing for a winner, the Royals allowed Cardiff’s Kieffer Moore to score the opener late on.
But while Meite dramatically rescued a point at the death it might not be enough for Reading, who are four points off the top six with only four games to play. They struggled to get going against a Cardiff side, who had the better of the first half. Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson came closest as he found space after collecting a loose ball but Royals keeper Rafael got his fingertips to his low drive.
The home side’s best chance in the first half fell to
Meite, who got on the end of Michael Olise’s neat chip in the area, but he could not beat Alex Smithies with a flick.
Reading started the second half with more purpose and Ovie Ejaria managed a shot on target after 51 minutes, albeit an easy save for Smithies. Four minutes later, the Bluebirds keeper did well to block from Lucas Joao at the near post after Olise had rolled a free-kick into the area.
That proved to be Joao’s last involvement, though, as he appeared to suffer a shoulder injury when falling awkwardly. His exit did not prevent the Royals pushing on, and Meite was the next to have a chance as he blazed an effort over after being set up by Josh Laurent. Despite launching attack after attack they were nearly caught on the break, but
Moore’s shot lacked power to trouble Rafael. Moments later, Wilson got through one-on-one with Rafael and chipped the goalkeeper, only for Andy Yiadom to clear off the line.
And Cardiff made the breakthrough after 87 minutes as sub Sheyi Ojo’s lung-busting run ended with a shot was which was saved by Rafael. But he couldn’t hold on and as Moore went for the rebound he was upended by Omar Richards.
Moore (left) scored from the spot but Reading went all out for an equaliser by throwing on three substitutes. And they grabbed a point when Meite met Sam Baldock’s cross