READING FC Under 23s let a two-goal lead slip in a 5-2 home defeat to Arsenal Under 23s in Premier League 2 this afternoon.
Royals, containing three Under 18 youngsters, were in the driving seat at Hogwood Park until an experienced Arsenal side came storming back to win at Hogwood Park.
It had started so well for Reading who took a second-minute lead when American forward Andrija Novakovich collected a Tyler Frost cross and fired past Gunners keeper Ryan Hubbart.
The visitors mounted a swift response as Reiss Nelson's effort deflected narrowly wide before Mathieu Debuch's bicycle kick from the resulting corner was blocked by teenager Tom Holmes.
Gunners nearly equalised again soon after when Yaya Sanogo's overhead kick flew an whisker over the bar.
Arsenal, though, fell further when midfielder Jordan Holsgrove strode forward and saw his powerful shot deflect past Hubbart and creep over the line.
Arsenal's Yaya Sanogo, pictured here on loan at Charlton, scored a hat-trick for their Under 23s against Reading.
But the visitors refused to lie down and pulled one back before the break when Debuchy headed in from a Nelson corner.
The Gunners equalised early in the second half, again Royals conceding from a corner as Sanogo nodded in from a Chris Wilcock delivery.
Reading threatened to go back in front when Frost tested Hubbart with a decent effort.
But Royals keeper Luke Southwood pulled off an equally impressive stop at the other end to thwart Sanogo.
Sadly, it was a brief reprieve as Sonogo collected Cohen Bramall's pass and stroked the ball home for a 3-2 Gunners lead.
Reading conceded twice more in quick succession after that as Bramall netted from a cleber Ainsley Maitland-Niles back-heel then Sanogo beat Southwood to complete his hat-trick.
Substitute John Barrett almost reduced the deficit when he was denied by Hubbart, though replacement Royals keeper Liam Driscoll also made a stunning save to deny Nelson and Arsenal a sixth.
Reading U23: Southwood (Driscoll), Holmes, Richards, Osho, Dickie (Andresson), East, Frost, Rinomhota, Holsgrove, Rakels (Barrett), Novakovich. Subs not used: Medford-Smith, Smith.
Arsenal U23: Huddart, Jenkinson, Bramall, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Debuchy, Nelson, Reine-Adelaine (Sheaf), Sanogo (Nketiah), Iwobi, Wilock. Subs not used: Keto, Johnson, Da Silva.
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