League One side Charlton pulled off a Carling Cup upset with a second-round victory over last season's Championship play-off finalists Reading.

Goals either side of the break from Paul Benson and Jason Euell put the home side in control at the Valley.

It was a nervous last 15 minutes for the home side though after Sean Morrison pulled one back for Reading.

Mathieu Manset also saw a shot cleared off the line for the visitors, but Charlton held on to progress.

It could have been a different story had Manset converted Jobi McAnuff's cross for the visitors, but Yado Mambo's vital touch prevented this being the case.

Not long after, Manset had another great chance to score but had his header scrambled off the line by Cedric Evina.

Reading were left to rue these misses when, in the 25th minute, Euell's flicked header was capitalised on by Benson, who beat Royals goalkeeper Alex McCarthy to the ball before firing home from close range.

The home side should have been two up five minutes later after Bradley Pritchard's lob beat Royals goalkeeper Alex McCarthy and looked certain to hit the back of the net until Shaun Cummings somehow got back to clear off the line.

However, in the 64th minute it was 2-0 when Euell was on hand to head home Simon Francis' cross.

Reading gave themselves a lifeline nine minutes later courtesy of Morrison's low drive that found the net through a crowd of players.

And they could have had an equaliser had Scott Wagstaff not been on hand to clear Manset's header off the line.

But the home side were able to repel any further Reading attacks and came close to adding a third when Ruben Bover Izquierdo went on a great run before unleashing a shot which beat McCarthy but hit the crossbar.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Charlton

  • 01 Hamer
  • 03 Evina
  • 12 Doherty (Morrison - 72' )
  • 15 Mambo
  • 19 Francis
  • 02 Hughes
  • 07 Green
  • 18 Pritchard
  • 21 Izquierdo (Solly - 88' )
  • 14 Benson (Wagstaff - 50' )
  • 17 Euell

Substitutes

  • 13 Sullivan
  • 05 Morrison
  • 20 Solly
  • 11 Wagstaff
  • 25 Davisson
  • 27 Warren
  • 26 Popo

Reading

  • 12 McCarthy
  • 15 Morrison
  • 23 Harte (Mills - 62' )
  • 24 Cummings
  • 26 Khumalo
  • 07 Tabb
  • 11 McAnuff Booked
  • 20 Howard
  • 37 Obita (Robson-Kanu - 62' Booked )
  • 18 Church
  • 22 Manset

Substitutes

  • 31 Andersen
  • 05 Pearce
  • 16 Mills
  • 04 Karacan
  • 06 Gunnarsson
  • 19 Robson-Kanu
  • 10 Hunt
Ref: Whitestone
Att: 6,668

Match Stats

Shots

19 10

On target

13 7

Corners

7 11

Fouls

12 5

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:08 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +3:49

Hal Robson-Kanu is caught offside. Ben Hamer restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +2:36

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Danny Green by Joseph Mills. Direct free kick taken by Danny Green.

90:00 +1:16

Cedric Evina takes a shot. Blocked by Shaun Cummings.

87:01 Substitution

Substitution (Charlton) makes a substitution, with Chris Solly coming on for Ruben Bover Izquierdo.

86:02

Ruben Bover Izquierdo takes a shot.

85:06

Handball decision goes against Hal Robson-Kanu. Ben Hamer takes the free kick.

84:41 Booking

Booking Hal Robson-Kanu is booked.

83:06

Ben Hamer takes the free kick.

83:06 Booking

Booking Jobi McAnuff is cautioned by the ref for dissent.

82:46

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Morrison by Hal Robson-Kanu.

82:16

Corner taken by Jobi McAnuff.

80:41

Outswinging corner taken by Jobi McAnuff from the right by-line, Sean Morrison has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

79:24

Jason Euell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jobi McAnuff. Direct free kick taken by Joseph Mills.

79:13

Simon Church takes a shot. Blocked by Cedric Evina.

78:26

Outswinging corner taken by Jobi McAnuff, Hal Robson-Kanu takes a shot. Save by Ben Hamer.

76:00

Free kick awarded for a foul by Simon Francis on Hal Robson-Kanu. Free kick taken by Joseph Mills.

73:47

Simon Church challenges Michael Morrison unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Ben Hamer.

72:10

Assist on the goal came from Jobi McAnuff.

72:10 Goal scored

Goal - Sean Morrison - Charlton 2 - 1 Reading Sean Morrison fires in a goal from close in high into the middle of the goal. Charlton 2-1 Reading.

71:02 Substitution

Substitution Michael Morrison on for Gary Doherty.

71:02

Corner taken by Jobi McAnuff from the right by-line.

70:04

Cedric Evina challenges Jobi McAnuff unfairly and gives away a free kick. Joseph Mills has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, save by Alex McCarthy.

68:09

Corner taken right-footed by Danny Green from the left by-line to the near post, Alex McCarthy makes a save.

67:06

Foul by Brian Howard on Danny Green, free kick awarded. Danny Green shoots direct from the free kick, Alex McCarthy makes a save.

64:21

Danny Green takes a shot. Save by Alex McCarthy.

63:19

Simon Francis provided the assist for the goal.

63:19 Goal scored

Goal - Jason Euell - Charlton 2 - 0 Reading Jason Euell grabs a headed goal from close range. Charlton 2-0 Reading.

62:29

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Danny Green.

61:55 Substitution

Substitution Hal Robson-Kanu joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jordan Obita.

61:29 Substitution

Substitution Joseph Mills comes on in place of Ian Harte.

61:09

Danny Green takes a shot. Save by Alex McCarthy.

59:27

Inswinging corner taken by Danny Green.

59:13

Bradley Pritchard takes a shot. Blocked by Sean Morrison.

59:00

Scott Wagstaff takes a shot. Save by Alex McCarthy.

57:10

Gary Doherty concedes a free kick for a foul on Mathieu Manset. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Ian Harte.

56:27

Long range shot by Andy Hughes goes wide right of the target.

56:04

Danny Green takes a short corner.

51:44

Outswinging corner taken by Danny Green from the right by-line, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Gary Doherty misses to the left of the goal.

49:12 Substitution

Substitution (Charlton) makes a substitution, with Scott Wagstaff coming on for Paul Benson.

47:23

Simon Church has a headed effort from close range and clears the crossbar.

46:31

Inswinging corner taken by Brian Howard from the right by-line played to the near post.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +1:09 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +0:06

Unfair challenge on Ruben Bover Izquierdo by Ian Harte results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ben Hamer.

42:44

Corner taken by Brian Howard.

41:18

Brian Howard takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Simon Francis manages to make a clearance.

39:09

The official flags Jason Euell offside. Indirect free kick taken by Alex McCarthy.

34:50

Foul by Andy Hughes on Jay Tabb, free kick awarded. Sean Morrison takes the free kick.

34:22

Danny Green takes a shot. Save made by Alex McCarthy.

33:55

Ruben Bover Izquierdo produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

32:32

Paul Benson concedes a free kick for a foul on Ian Harte. Ian Harte takes the free kick.

32:03

Mathieu Manset is adjudged to have handled the ball. Ben Hamer takes the free kick.

31:33

Danny Green challenges Mathieu Manset unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ian Harte takes the direct free kick.

30:02

Bradley Pritchard takes a shot. Clearance made by Sean Morrison.

29:54

Jason Euell produces a cross, save by Alex McCarthy.

28:52

The assistant referee signals for offside against Paul Benson. Free kick taken by Alex McCarthy.

28:04

The official flags Jason Euell offside. Alex McCarthy takes the free kick.

27:14

Corner taken right-footed by Danny Green, save by Alex McCarthy.

24:47

The assist for the goal came from Jason Euell.

24:47 Goal scored

Goal - Paul Benson - Charlton 1 - 0 Reading Paul Benson finds the back of the net with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Charlton 1-0 Reading.

23:04

Mathieu Manset fouled by Danny Green, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ian Harte.

22:14

Cedric Evina sends in a cross, save by Alex McCarthy.

19:24

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jobi McAnuff from the left by-line, Ben Hamer makes a save.

17:07

Bradley Pritchard takes a shot. Blocked by Paul Benson.

15:55

Ruben Bover Izquierdo challenges Mathieu Manset unfairly and gives away a free kick. Alex McCarthy takes the direct free kick.

15:18

Simon Church takes a shot. Save by Ben Hamer.

13:06

Mathieu Manset takes a shot. Save made by Ben Hamer.

11:52

Ruben Bover Izquierdo takes a shot. Blocked by Bongani Khumalo.

11:09

Corner taken right-footed by Jobi McAnuff, save by Ben Hamer.

10:58

Free kick awarded for a foul by Bradley Pritchard on Simon Church. Direct free kick taken by Ian Harte.

8:24

Unfair challenge on Simon Church by Gary Doherty results in a free kick. Ian Harte takes the direct free kick.

7:29

Jason Euell takes a shot. Save made by Alex McCarthy.

4:42

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Ruben Bover Izquierdo, save by Alex McCarthy.

3:12

Mathieu Manset takes a shot. Clearance made by Cedric Evina.

2:53

Corner from left by-line taken by Jobi McAnuff.

2:18

Danny Green has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.

1:34

Paul Benson produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.

0:55

Outswinging corner taken by Brian Howard, clearance by Gary Doherty.

0:29

Foul by Yado Mambo on Mathieu Manset, free kick awarded. Shaun Cummings restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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