Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1(4), Reading 1(2).
Wolves 1-1 Reading (4-2 pens): Home side win dramatic penalty shootout
- From the section League Cup
Wolves beat Reading in a penalty shoutout as John Swift and Lucas Boyle missed their spot kicks - after the pair combined to score a 99th-minute equaliser for the visitors.
Swift's sensational 'rabona' cross set up Boyle to head in deep in added time of the Carabao Cup third-round tie.
Wolves debutant Bruno Jordao gave the hosts a 1-0 lead but was later taken off on a stretcher before half-time.
Ruben Vinagre scored the decisive fourth penalty to win the shootout.
Wolves travel to Aston Villa in the fourth round.
Midfielder Jordao's strike from 25 yards slipped through Reading keeper Joao Virginia's arms in the first half as Wolves led for 72 minutes at Molineux.
But Championship side Reading fought until the end to produce a dramatic climax.
Midfielder Yakou Meite was denied by a goal-line clearance from Wolves' defender Ryan Bennett shortly after the restart but the visitors eventually got the equaliser they needed to set-up a penalty shootout finale.
And some equaliser it was too - Swift deceiving the full-back with a skillful 'rabona' which Boyle duly dispatched before the heroes turned to villains in the shootout.
Wolves keeper John Ruddy made a smart save low to his left to deny Swift and Boyle blasted over the bar as Wolves netted all four of their spot kicks.
It was an encouraging victory for Wolves, who sit 19th in the Premier League and are winless after six top-flight matches.
They have now progressed from each of their last 10 domestic cup ties against teams from a lower division.
Wolves also avoided a third successive penalty shootout defeat in the competition - losing to Manchester City in 2017-18 and Leicester in 2018-19.
But there will be concern for Wolves debutants Meritan Shabani and Jordao, who both left the pitch on a stretcher.
German midfielder Shabani, who came on as a 74th-minute substitute, went off 15 minutes later, leaving Wolves playing the final stages with 10 men.
'It looks bad' - what the managers said
Wolves boss Nuno Esperito Santo: "Shabani looks like a long one, he is now being analysed by the doctor, then we will know what happened but it looks bad. We don't know yet.
"Jordao's is a different situation - someone fell on him and he twisted his ankle.
"The second half was not so good and after, when we went to 10 men, and Reading were pushing, it becomes harder."
Reading manager Jose Gomes: "He (Virginia) did good things but we cannot hide the way we conceded that goal so we need to help him recover to be better in the future.
"The second half was completely different. We controlled the game and created a lot of chances and recovered the ball very quickly.
"We could have scored before the goal but we didn't. Wolverhampton were better at us in the penalties."
Line-ups
Wolves
- 21Ruddy
- 4Vallejo
- 5Bennett
- 49Kilman
- 2Doherty
- 6Cavaco JordaoSubstituted forPerryat 42'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 8Neves
- 29Vinagre
- 7NetoBooked at 20minsSubstituted forCundleat 83'minutes
- 10Cutrone
- 17Gibbs-WhiteSubstituted forShabaniat 74'minutesSubstituted forat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 11Rui Patrício
- 16Coady
- 23Sanderson
- 26Perry
- 28João Moutinho
- 57Shabani
- 68Cundle
Reading
- 20Neves Virgínia
- 22HoweSubstituted forPuscasat 66'minutes
- 5Miazga
- 16McIntyreSubstituted forEjariaat 56'minutes
- 24Blackett
- 27Richards
- 19Meite
- 26AdamSubstituted forSwiftat 56'minutesBooked at 63mins
- 8Rinomhota
- 18Boyé
- 39Barrett
Substitutes
- 1Walker
- 9Baldock
- 10Swift
- 14Ejaria
- 21Olise
- 34Osho
- 47Puscas
- Referee:
- Peter Bankes
- Attendance:
- 20,702
Match Stats
Home TeamWolvesAway TeamReading
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home4
- Away7
Live Text
Penalties over
Penalty Shootout ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1(4), Reading 1(2).
Goal!
Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1(4), Reading 1(2). Rúben Vinagre (Wolverhampton Wanderers) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal!
Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1(3), Reading 1(2). Matt Miazga (Reading) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Goal!
Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1(3), Reading 1(1). Ryan Bennett (Wolverhampton Wanderers) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Lucas Boyé (Reading) right footed shot is too high. Lucas Boyé should be disappointed.
Goal!
Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1(2), Reading 1(1). Jesús Vallejo (Wolverhampton Wanderers) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Penalty saved! John Swift (Reading) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
Goal!
Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1(1), Reading 1(1). Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal!
Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Reading 1(1). George Puscas (Reading) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Penalties in progress
Penalty Shootout begins Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Reading 1.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Reading 1.
Goal!
Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Reading 1. Lucas Boyé (Reading) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by John Swift with a cross.
Foul by Tyler Blackett (Reading).
Jesús Vallejo (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Reading. Conceded by John Ruddy.
Attempt saved. Ovie Ejaria (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt missed. Ovie Ejaria (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Booking
Taylor Perry (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card.
Corner, Reading. Conceded by John Ruddy.
Attempt saved. George Puscas (Reading) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by John Swift.
Meritan Shabani went off injured after Wolverhampton Wanderers had used all subs.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Luke Cundle replaces Pedro Neto.
Attempt missed. George Puscas (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lucas Boyé.
Foul by Matt Miazga (Reading).
Meritan Shabani (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Meritan Shabani replaces Morgan Gibbs-White.
Foul by Patrick Cutrone (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Andy Rinomhota (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Rúben Vinagre (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Andy Rinomhota (Reading).
Attempt blocked. Yakou Meite (Reading) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Josh Barrett with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. George Puscas replaces Teddy Howe.
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Ovie Ejaria.
Booking
John Swift (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by John Swift (Reading).
Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by John Swift (Reading).
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Tyler Blackett.
