Swans blow it as Reading fire back to salvage point in eight-goal thriller
Swansea City blew a three-goal lead as they drew 4-4 in a thrilling Championship encounter with Reading.
The Swans went behind in the third minute at the Select Car Leasing Stadium as Lucas Joao netted from the penalty spot before stunning strikes from Hannes Wolf and Joel Piroe saw them go ahead. Piroe scored a penalty of his own before Michael Obafemi drilled home his 10th goal of the term to put Russell Martin’s men in a strong position.
Reading set up a tense finish as Tom Ince and Joao both bulged the net. And Tom McIntyre scored a dramatic equaliser in injury time as the points were shared, with the only positive seeing Swansea extend their unbeaten run to seven games.
Having missed three matches on the spin because of a knee injury, Flynn Downes made a welcome return to the Swans’ line-up as Jay Fulton dropped to the bench in what was the only alteration from Friday’s 1-1 draw with Barnsley. But the visitors made a disastrous start as Piroe was adjudged to have fouled Josh Laurent in his own box inside three minutes.
Joao stepped up and sent Andy Fisher the wrong way to hand the Royals a dream start to proceedings in Berkshire. That didn’t faze the Swans, and after regaining their composure they levelled in stunning fashion just three minutes after going behind.
The ball was worked from right to left, with Wolf collecting possession just inside the Reading box before curling into the top corner of Orjan Nyland’s goal to make it 1-1. It was the very definition of a postage stamp strike from the Austrian, and one that sparked wild scenes of celebrations among the 2,100 or so members of the Swansea support who packed out the away end.
It typified what was a perfect response to the early setback, and Martin’s men dictated play having swiftly got themselves back on level terms. Piroe came close to lobbing Nyland a minute later, although it got even better for the Swansea faithful on 12 minutes when the Dutchman sparked yet another party.
Piroe unleashed an unstoppable left-footed curling strike into the far corner to net to put Swansea ahead after what had been a breathtaking start to the contest. It was the forward’s 21st goal of the campaign.
Martin’s men oozed class and confidence on the ball, regularly taking advantage of the space to get into promising positions.
Swansea stuck to their principles and weathered the mini-storm as Jamie Paterson and Wolf were both off target with speculative efforts late on in the first half. And they were awarded their first spot-kick of the season in first-half injury time as Obafemi was tripped by Hoilett in the box.
Piroe slotted beyond Nyland from 12 yards to give the Swans a two-goal advantage at the break with what was his side’s first goal from the penalty spot since Jamal Lowe netted against Wycombe Wanderers a year and a day earlier.
The visitors had no desire to rest on their laurels after the restart, and they continued to show all of the methods that have been instilled in them since Martin’s arrival last summer. While they were grateful to see Tom Ince drill over from the edge of the box in the 55th minute, Swansea remained in control.
And they extended their lead following a clinical move just before the hour mark.
Piroe split the Reading defence after latching on to Paterson’s pass to set up Obafemi, who rifled into the roof of the net from close range. It took the striker’s goal tally to double figures for the season as the Swans hit four in an away game for the second time this month.
They were pegged back just three minutes later as Tom Ince volleyed Hoilett’s cross beyond Fisher, with Martin sending on Fulton and Olivier Ntcham for Downes and Paterson as Swansea wobbled.
And the nerves were jangling as Joao prodded home shortly after Fulton had cleared off his own line, with Reading feeling increasingly confident of salvaging something from what had appeared to be a lost
cause. With the game stretched, Obafemi, Wolf and Ntcham spurned chances to make the final stages comfortable for Swansea. And the hosts snatched a point at the death as McIntyre lashed home from close range.
TEAMS
Reading: Nyland; Yiadom, Morrison, McIntyre, Rahman, Drinkwater, Dele-Bashiru, Hoilett (Meite 84), Ince, Laurent, Joao. Subs not used: Southwood, Azeez, Ehibatiomhan, Halilovic, Thomas, Barker.
Swansea City: Fisher; Cabango, Naughton, Latibeaudiere, Christie, Downes (Fulton 64), Grimes, Wolf, Piroe (Manning 83), Paterson (Ntcham 68); Obafemi. Subs not used: Hamer, Smith, Congreve, Joseph.