Charlton Athletic vs Reading. Sky Bet Championship.
The ValleyAttendance15,007.
Monday 23 March 2015 10:54, UK
Belgian midfielder Yoni Buyens scored twice in the second half to help Charlton beat FA Cup semi-finalists Reading 3-2 at The Valley.
Substitute Simon Church netted a third for Charlton, who had been 1-0 down at the break after a sharp turn and crisp finish from Reading's Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak.
Pogrebnyak also added a late consolation but Reading, by then down to 10 men after Daniel Williams was sent off, could not find an equaliser.
The win moves Guy Luzon's Charlton to 11th in the Sky Bet Championship while Steve Clarke's Reading dropped down to 19th but remain a comfortable nine points above the drop zone with a game in hand.
The Addicks, buoyed by their midweek 3-0 win at basement club Blackpool, created the first chance after three minutes. Chris Eagles' low corner was met by Johann Gudmundsson but his first-time left-footed strike arrowed just wide of Adam Federici's near post.
The Royals had not won any of their previous four away games in all competitions, losing two. Their last win on the road was 1-0 at Ipswich in the Championship on February 21, but it was they who took the lead after 39 minutes as Pogrebnyak fired home into the bottom corner for his fifth goal of the season from Jordan Obita's left-wing cross.
In the first five minutes of the second half Charlton created more chances than they managed in the entire first 45 minutes. Full-back Morgan Fox delivered a superb cross from the left that Tony Watt side-footed over when he should have scored.
Gudmundsson then whipped in a dangerous ball from the right, and Eagles' far-post header dropped to Yoni Buyens, but his close-range drive was bravely blocked by away skipper Alex Pearce.
A minute later, Federici was down swiftly to beat away a snap shot from Eagles.
The equaliser arrived after 57 minutes. Reading's Michael Hector handled in the box under intense pressure from Watt and referee Darren Deadman pointed to the spot. Buyens had already scored six penalties this season and the Standard Liege loanee easily made it seven as he shot into the top corner.
Charlton pressed forward and only Eagles will know how he missed a close-range header on the hour from Gudmundsson's cross.
Their second soon arrived after 69 minutes and it was a real peach. A flowing move saw impressive right-back Joe Gomez whip in an inviting cross and midfielder Buyens arrived at the perfect time to slot home his and Charlton's second.
The vital third arrived after 79 minutes and it was tapped in by substitute Church but tremendous credit went to Watt who powered down the right, shrugged off two defenders and crossed.
Reading had Williams sent off for his second yellow-card offence after 84 minutes but Pogrebnyak still set up a tense finale when he slammed home his second from close range in stoppage time following Jamie Mackie's flick-on.
