News and Views
Super Sub Yakubu Puts Royals In Last Eight
14 February 2015
By Hob Nob Anyone?
A Yakubu goal with eight minutes left to play sent Reading through to the last eight of the FA Cup at Derby, for the third time in five years. The Royals were 2-1 winners after Hal Robson-Kanu's goal was cancelled out by Darren Bent's equaliser in the second half. The game was 0-0 at half time but the home side finished the half with ten men after Warnock was sent off for his second booking. Reading made the most of the extra man when Yakubu came off the bench with twenty minutes to play and scored the decisive goal.
Derby enjoyed the better of the possession before they were reduced to ten men after Warnock's late tackle on Mackie, but both sides had chances to score. Federici pulled off a couple of good saves to keep it level, and down the other end Cox saw an effort blocked on the line and put one over from a rebound.
The extra man allowed Reading to see a bit more of the ball after the break. Reading had a strong claim for a penalty after the ball struck a Derby arm in the area, but the referee waved the appeal away. The Royals did take the lead seven minutes into the second half when Simon Cox did well down the right and cut the ball back to Hal Robson-Kanu in the middle. Robson-Kanu's effort was impressive - curling the ball into the left of the net to make it 1-0.
Bent was on the scoresheet for Derby eight minutes later when he got in the way of a shot to send a deflection past the unfortunate Federici.
For the second consecutive match Yakubu entered the action with twenty minutes to play but this time made his mark. Goal scorer Robson-Kanu turned creator to thread the ball through the middle to Yakubu who steamed through and made it count with a cool finish.
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