Sky Bet Championship

Reading 2 (Bodvarsson 16, O’Kane O.G. 59) Leeds United 2 (Jansson 43, Hernandez 56)

Pontus Jansson and Pablo Hernandez were on the score-sheet as Leeds United and Reading played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Madejski Stadium.

Leeds started the game brightly, Ezgjan Alioski broke into the Reading box, but couldn’t find the target with his effort.

United then had another early chance when Laurens De Bock put a great ball in from the left, Caleb Ekuban couldn’t get a shot away, but it fell to Alioski, who was denied by a fine save by Anssi Jaakkola at his near post.

The home side took the lead in the 16^th minute, Sone Aluko provided a defence splitting pass and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson slotted the ball into the net.

The Royals could have gone further in front when former Leeds man Modou Barrow’s low cross was met by Bodvarsson at the back post, a combination of Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Matthew Pennington kept his effort out, before the latter superbly blocked George Evans’ rebound.

Barrow then had a great chance to make it two, he robbed possession from De Bock, before racing through on goal, but he was denied by a really good stop from Peacock-Farrell.

Evans then tried his luck from range and he was only denied by another fine save from Peacock-Farrell who tipped the ball over the bar.

Leeds piled on the pressure ahead of the break in search of an equaliser, Samuel Saiz teed up Hernandez to strike, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.

Hernandez then turned provider when he played the ball to Ekuban in the Reading box, but his effort deflected narrowly wide.

From the resulting corner Leeds did level, Jaakkola punched away the delivery as far as Adam Forshaw who drove back into the area from the left, before teeing up Jansson who poked home.

A minute later Leeds could have been ahead, Alioski went on a weaving run, through the Reading defence, he got past Jaakkola, but could only hit the post from a tight angle.

Pelle Clement almost put Reading back in front on the stroke of half time, but his effort went just wide from the edge of the box as the two teams went in all square.

Half Time: Reading 1-1 Leeds United

Leeds started the second half brightly, with Saiz testing Jaakkola with a low effort from distance.

The Whites went in front for the first time in the 56^th minute, Saiz teed up Hernandez and he provided a lovely curling strike into the top corner, in front of the travelling Leeds support.

However that lead lasted less than three minutes, Leandro Bacuna fired a powerful low effort from the edge of the box and his attempt deflected off Eunan O’Kane and beyond Peacock-Farrell.

Alioski had the opportunity to restore the Leeds lead shortly after, he shot on the turn from just inside the Reading box, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.

Leeds had the chance to go back in front from a corner, but Ekuban could only head wide, with Jansson lurking behind for his second.

Saiz then drove forwards and he found Alioski in space, but his effort from the edge of the box was superbly tipped around the post by Jaakkola.

With six minutes remaining, Alioski put a teasing cross into the Reading box and Leeds substitute Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Hernandez were just inches away from finishing it off.

The Whites almost won it late on, when Lasogga charged down a Jaakkola kick and the ball trickled towards goal, but it hit the post and bounced out, as both sides had to settle for a point.

Full Time: Reading 2-2 Leeds United

Reading: Jaakkola, Gunter, Moore, Evans (Edwards 63), Aluko, Barrow, Bacuna, Ilori, Clement (Swift 63), Bodvarsson, Kelly.  Subs not used: Mannone, Blackett, Smith, Loader, Holmes.

Leeds: Peacock-Farrell, De Bock, Jansson, Pennington, Berardi, Forshaw, O’Kane, Hernandez (Dallas 85), Saiz, Alioski, Ekuban (Lasogga 77).  Subs not used: Wiedwald, Anita, Phillips, Vieira, Pearce.

Referee: S Duncan

Booked: Evans, Kelly (Reading) Pennington (Leeds)

Venue: Madejski Stadium

Attendance: 19,770 (3,967 Leeds)