Reading beaten by Turkish side

Reading were beaten by Turkish top division side Karabükspor 3-1 this afternoon after Turkish striker Sinan Kaloglu scored a first-half hat trick.

Royals boss Brian McDermott again opted to go for two different teams each half, with neither team including Andy Griffin, Marcus Williams, Simon Church, Noel Hunt and Mathieu Manset, who were all nursing small knocks picked up in training.

It didn`t start well for the Royals with Karabükspor taking an early lead through the Turkish striker 2 minutes in, despite Reading wanting a foul in the build-up.

However, Reading responded to this by equalising soon later thanks to stand-in captain Brynjar Gunnarsson after stabbing in from a Brian Howard corner.

Karabükspor almost went straight back infront but a good save from Adam Federici kept out the danger man Kaloglu.

The Turkish side did regained the lead soon later though, again through their striker Sinan Kaloglu after a header at the back post.

Young midfielder Jordan Obita came close to levelling the scores once again but his swerving effort was saved by the Karabükspor keeper.

The Royals continued to put on pressure but it was the Turkish top division side who got themselves a two-goal cushion again through Kaloglu, after converting from close range just before half time.

There was some improvement from the Royals in the second half with a team that included our two key wingers, Jimmy Kebe and club-captain Jobi McAnuff.

Welsh international Hal Robson-Kanu came close to reducing the Turks advantage but his shot went just wide after a ball from Mikele Leigertwood. HRK then went down in the box with the linesman flagging, only for the referee to ignore the signal.

Jobi McAnuff then should have made it 3-2 after he was clean through thanks to a Robson-Kanu flick. Obita again came close but only for the keeper to save his team again.

It finished 3-1 to the Turkish side whose experience shone through in the end, despite the Royals having the better of the second half. It now brings our 10-day tour of Slovenia to an end and we will now play Northampton Town in a friendly on Saturday.





First half team: Federici; Cummings, Tabb, Gunnarsson (c), Harte; Karacan, Howard, Antonio, Obita; Bignall, Long

Second half team: Federici; Taylor, Tabb, Morrison, Pearce; Leigertwood, McAnuff (c), Kebe, Obita; Bignall, Robson-Kanu

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