#GAME58 26/01/18 Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 Reading

Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 Reading

Despite the impressive scoreline and overall good performance, the first twenty minutes were poor for the Owls. Reading took advantage of the slow beginning and went very close four minutes in. David Edwards escaped the attention of the Wednesday backline and latched onto a Bacuna through ball. They advanced towards goal however young Cameron Dawson was switched on and rushed out to stop the shot.

Wednesday took the lead just before the half an hour mark through Kosovan international Atdhe Nuhiu. Venancio saw the run of Nuhiu and played a perfectly weighted ball over the top for the forward. Nuhiu let it bounce before placing it past Jaakkola.

That was it for the first half for clear cut chances. New signing Joey Pelupessy saw his 30 yard strike fly over the bar on 15 minutes and then Bödvarsson out paced Loovens before firing over from 16 yards.

Like the first half, Reading had a chance early into the half and surely would have taken the lead if it wasn’t down to an excellent save by the goalkeeper. McCleary’s pass rolled through everyone to Bödvarsson who shot first time. Dawson got a strong hand to it and then jumped on the ball to avoid the Reading striker from scoring. Incredible piece of goalkeeping.



Nuhiu bagged his and Wednesday’s second goal of the game almost ten minutes after halftime. Matias put in a accurate cross from the left into the box which Nuhiu ran onto and poked it into the goal.

Dawson was proving to be as solid as a brick wall so far in the game however on the hour mark he relied on the post to keep out Bacuna. McCleary cut in and passed it to Bacuna who was twenty yards away from goal. He curled his effort to the right of Dawson but his fierce shot struck the frame of the goal.

A minute later Wednesday made it 3-0 thanks to some poor defending from Reading. Matias slotted the ball through to Boyd but the pass wasn’t the best and looked easy to clear. Both Gunter and Moore both left it for each and Boyd nipped in and netted his first goal for Sheffield Wednesday.

Nuhiu was in search of a hattrick and went close with twenty minutes left. Jack Hunt crossed into the middle where Nuhiu volleyed first time just past the post.

Bacuna’s freekick was easily caught by Dawson with ten minutes remaining. Dawson then kicked the ball out wide for Boyd who had made a run. Boyd accelerated down the wing before rifling a shot towards goal. However Jaakkola parried it away.

MARCO OF THE MATCH

Marco Matias was excellent on Friday night. He had already got two assists to his name and was lurking for a goal himself. Hunt’s cross was headed into the path of Matias. Matias superbly dummied the shot and took it past and outrushing Edwards. He opened fire and shot unfortunately across the face of goal and out for a goalkick.

Matias was even closer to netting several minutes later. He controlled Jones’ cross and attempted to lift it over the defender. It didn’t work but he still had possession and tried to place it past Jaakkola but the Finnish keeper saved with his face.

Reading scored a consolation three minutes from time due to an unfortunate own goal from Dawson. Barrow’s fizzed cross deflected off Venancio and headed towards goal. Dawson tried to save it but it hit the post, hit Dawson and trickled in.

The game ended and Wednesday advanced into the next round. A good performance from the Owls with standout performance’s from Cameron Dawson, Marco Matias and Atdhe Nuhiu.

Attendance: 14,848
Goals: Nuhiu (29’, 53’), Boyd (61’); Dawson OG (87’)
MOTM: Marco Matias

SWFC: Cameron Dawson; Frederico Venancio, Glenn Loovens, Daniel Pudil (Liam Palmer); Jack Hunt, George Boyd, Joey Pelupessy, Adam Reach (David Jones), Morgan Fox; Marco Matias (Jordan Rhodes), Atdhe Nuhiu
Unused Subs: Joe Wildsmith, Jacob Butterfield, Ross Wallace, Lucas Joao

RFC: Anssi Jaakkola; Chris Gunter, Tiago Ilori, Liam Moore, Leandro Bacuna (George Evans); Garath McCleary (Modou Barrow), Pelle Clement, David Edwards, Roy Beerens; Jón Dadi Bödvarsson, Yann Kermorgant (Sam Smith)
Unused Subs: Vito Mannone, Tyler Blackett, Liam Kelly, Sone Aluko