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Season 2025 / 2026

(H) Reading

EFL Cup

13 August 2025

FOOTBALL DATABASE

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	PORTSMOUTH	0		2	READING


Singerr	90+3	34	Garcia
		38	Ehibhatiomhan

	A stoppage-time header from debutant Tayo Singerr was not enough to prevent Pompey making an early exit from the Carabao Cup. Just over a fortnight after beating Reading 4-0 in a pre-season friendly in Berkshire, they lost 2-1 to the same opponents back on the south coast. The Blues were undone far too easily on two occasions in the first half back on the south coast, with Andre Garcia and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan taking advantage. And although Singerr came off the bench to nod home right at the end, the hosts could not find a leveller to take the tie to penalties. John Mousinho made 10 changes from the side that secured victory at Oxford in the Championship at the weekend. There were full debuts for fit-again defender Ibane Bowat, plus summer signings Luke Le Roux, Márk Kosznovszky and Minhyeok Yang. John Swift – who wore the captain’s armband – was the only man to keep his spot, while Ben Killip, Zak Swanson, Hayden Matthews, Jacob Farrell, Terry Devlin and Thomas Waddingham all came into the team. Academy youngsters Michael Ani, Nathaniel Chioma, Fraser Thomas and Singerr all took their place among the substitutes. It was the visitors who made the stronger start and Finley Burns should have done better than fire wide when found by Kamari Doyle at the back post. The home side, meanwhile, were struggling to find any rhythm – perhaps not surprising considering the number of changes. But everyone inside Fratton Park was left wondering quite how they failed to break the deadlock on 15 minutes. Devlin swung in a cross from the right and Royals skipper Michael Stickland almost nodded it into his own net, only to be rescued by keeper Jack Stevens. The follow-up attempt from Kosznovszky was then cleared off the line by Ashqar Ahmed before Stevens denied Waddingham from point-blank range. It did quieten down after that, although Doyle swung a free-kick narrowly over after being brought down by Le Roux. And Reading did forge ahead on 34 minutes after Ehibhatiomhan raced onto a ball out from the back and caught the Blues defence flat-footed. His angled shot was parried away by Killip, who also kept out a second attempt from Doyle, but Garcia was on hand to lash the loose ball into the roof of the net. And the home faithful were left stunned when the visitors doubled their advantage just a few moments later. Tivonge Rushesha’s header found Ehibhatiomhan and he muscled his way past Matthews before stroking a shot home. Pompey had a chance to get back into the contest when Devlin swung in another good cross, but Kosznovszky could not bring it under control and the ball bounced wide. But it took a fine block from Farrell just before the break to prevent Mamadi Camará from extending the Royals’ lead further. Half Time: Pompey 0 Reading 2 Mousinho added some fresh legs in midfield for the second half, with Andre Dozzell replacing Swift and taking over as skipper. The midfielder soon sent in a few tricky set-pieces, but it was otherwise a rather sedate start to proceedings. Pompey were still labouring somewhat and two more changes followed just before the hour mark, as Waddingham and Bowat made way for Florian Bianchini and Regan Poole. Reading made changes of their own, including an introduction for former Fratton loanee Mark O’Mahony. There was not much happening aside from substitutions, with two more taking place for the hosts on 70 minutes. Saturday’s hero Adrian Segečić was joined by academy debutant Singerr, with Le Roux and Kosznovszky replaced. There was a chance to reduce the deficit when Farrell got on the end of a Dozzell corner, but the ball flew narrowly over. Daniel Kyerewaa went charging through on goal at the other end of the pitch, only for Killip to charge from his line and make the save. Stevens did likewise to deny Bianchini as Pompey tried to find a late route back into the contest, but the goal that eventually arrived came too late. Still it was a moment to remember for the teenage SINGERR, who neatly glanced home a cross from Segečić.

Updated - 14/08/2025