Reading FC 3 - 1 Millwall (aet): Bacuna, Evans and Smith goals send Royals into Carabao Cup third round

The former Manchester City midfielder hit a 25-yard stunner in the 105th minute in Royals’ 3-1 victory at Madejski Stadium.

The second-round tie looked to be heading for penalties after Leandro Bacuna’s 34th minute thunderbolt – his first goal for the club – was cancelled out by an equally brilliant strike from Millwall’s Shane Ferguson just three minutes later.

Royals appeared more likely to snatch a winner after that, but the more chances they missed, the more spot-kicks seemed likely – a fate few home fans will have wanted after the penalty shoot-out heartache at Wembley in May’s Championship play-off final with Huddersfield.

On this occasion, spot-kicks were not required thanks to a sumptuous strike from Evans which maintained Reading’s unbeaten home record at the Madejski Stadium this season.

And there was even time left for young striker Sam Smith to score his first senior goal for the club in the 116th minute – with Evans the provider on that occasion.

A mounting injury list saw Stam make eight changes to the side that started at Preston on Saturday with skipper-for-the-night Chris Gunter, Adrian Popa and Bacuna the only men to survive.

That meant a full debut for 19-year-old centre-back Axel Andresson alongside Tiago Ilori, while fit-again Stephen Quinn was handed his first start of the campaign.

In addition, Academy graduates Andy Rinomhota and Sam Smith were given another chance after starting in the 2-0 home win over Gillingham in the first round.

Meanwhile, Lions boss Neil Harris also shuffled his pack with one eye on their Championship clash against Norwich City this weekend and brought Jake Cooper into his starting line-up following the defender’s recent move from Reading to Millwall.

Cooper was immediately involved in the first controversial moment when he appeared to shove over Andresson at a corner, only for referee Charles Brakespear to reject Royals’ penalty calls.

But Stam’s men kept up the pressure as the Lions struggled to get out of their own half.

Their passing was far slicker in the opening stages, though clear-cut chances were hard to come by.

They created a decent opening in the 20th minute only for Evans to blaze over from upwards of 20 yards.

Then seven minutes later Andresson’s angled drive from Quinn’s corner also flew over the bar.

So it was left to Bacuna to show his side where the net was with a brilliant first goal for the club.

The recent Aston Villa signing needed little invitation to run into space before unleashing an unstoppable drive from 30-yard that flew past the fingertips of Tom King.

Yet Reading’s celebrations were cut short less than three minutes later by a superb Millwall equaliser.

Smart work by Anssi Jaakkola at his near post led to a Lions corner. But Royals only partially cleared the danger, the ball dropping to Ferguson wide on the right before he dispatched it back into the far corner from all of 25 yards.

Stam made a change at the break with Pelle Clement replacing Garath McCleary, who appeared to pick up a knock early in the game.

And Reading created the first chance of the second period when Popa fed Gunter who could only side-foot wide of Millwall’s near post.

The visitors hit back in the 54th minute when Tom Elliott missed the target with a header from a flag-kick and then saw Ryan Tunnicliffe blast one over from 25 yards less than a minute later.

It led to a decent spell for the Lions who almost snatched the lead in the 58th minute, but Byron Webster powered a header over from no more than six yard after Clement had conceded a soft free-kick on the left.

Back came Reading with Quinn testing King with a 20-yard grass-cutter a few minutes later.

But the tiring Republic of Ireland midfielder left the field soon after to be replaced by Modou Barrow with 20 minutes left on the clock.

No doubt Stam hoped former Swansea ace Barrow would provide a new spark up front.

And he almost did just that with 13 minutes to go when he played a neat one-two with Popa just outside the box only for the Romanian to scoop his effort over with only King to beat.

Then four minutes later Popa went close again with a 20-yard drive that King did well to beat away.

To add to Royals’ frustrations then blew a chance to win it in the 90th minute when Evans found Smith on the counter-attack, but the youngster missed the target with only King in his way.

That was the last action of the 90 minutes, and Royals threatened again early in extra time when a deflected effort from Evans kept King on his toes.

Then Barrow went close with a curling effort after a smart pass from Clement, Gunter smacked one into the south stand and Popa hit the side netting from a good position.

Barrow also stung King’s hands from long-range as the final 15 minutes approached.

But there was nothing King could do about the brilliant winner from Evans on the stroke of first-half extra time.

With Royals pressing again, the Lions back off to much and Evans took full advantage by curling a delicious effort past the outstretched arm of King and into the top corner from 25 yards out.

And Smith put the icing on the cake with a cool finish past King with four minutes remaining to send Stam’s men into the third round.

The draw for the third round takes place in China at 11.15am this Thursday – or 04.15am BST.

Reading FC: Jaakkola, Gunter (c), Ilori, Andresson (Blackett 90), Bacuna (Loader 95), Rinomhota, Evans, Quinn (Barrow 71), McCleary (Clement 46), Popa, Smith. Subs: Legg, Barrett, East.

Millwall: King; Romeo, Webster, Cooper, Craig; Onyedinma, Tunnicliffe (Williams 78), Thompson, Ferguson (Wallace 96); Butcher (O’Brien 85); Elliott (Morison 67). Subs: Archer, Meredith, Hutch.

Referee: Charles Breakspear.

Attendance: 7,148 (Millwall 471).