Cambridge United vs Reading

12 September 2026 · League One · 2026/27 · Referee O Yates

Full time 2 – 1

Half-time: 0–1

  • Liam Bennett 52’
  • Kell Watts 62’
  • Jack Marriott 38’

Match summary

Cambridge United came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Reading. Reading led 1-0 at half-time.

Jack Marriott put Reading ahead in the 38th minute, Liam Bennett equalised with a header in the 52nd minute, and Kell Watts won it with a header in the 62nd minute.

Reading can feel hard done by, creating 1.42 expected goals (xG) from 19 shots to Cambridge United's 0.76 from 11.

Match stats

45% Possession 55%
11 Shots 19
5 Shots on target 4
7 Corners 3
74 Attacks 87
42 Dangerous attacks 50
332 Passes 412
68.1% Pass accuracy 74.3%
13 Tackles 15
8 Fouls 11
2 Yellow cards 1
0 Offsides 1

Key events

Cambridge United Reading
Kick-off
Corner
26’
31’
Corner
33’
George EarthyShot on target
35’
Corner
38’
Jack MarriottLeft foot shot0-1 (Reading)
40’
Paddy LaneShot on target
Corner
42’
Half-time0-1
Pelly Ruddock MpanzuOwen Moxon
46’
Shayne LaveryRaees Bangura-Williams
46’
Second half underway
Corner
49’
51’
Jack MarriottShot on target
Liam BennettHeader1-1 (Cambridge United)
52’
Corner
60’
Sullay KaikaiShot on target
61’
Corner
61’
Kell WattsHeader2-1 (Cambridge United)
62’
Gassan AhadmeFoul
66’
Corner
70’
Shayne LaveryShot on target
71’
72’
Jacob BrownJack Marriott
72’
Randell WilliamsKyreece Lisbie
Shayne LaveryShot on target
74’
78’
Charlie SavageAndy Rinomhota
78’
Jamie ReidHaydon Roberts
Callum PerryFoul
80’
Zak BradshawCallum Perry
85’
Sam CurtisGassan Ahadme
85’
88’
Corner
90’
Randell WilliamsFoul
Louis AppéréBen Knight
90+2’
Corner
90+4’
Full-time2-1

How the chances added up

Running total of expected goals (xG) for each side through the match. xG rates each chance by how often similar shots are scored. A goal is marked where it was scored.

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0’ 15’ 30’ 45’ 60’ 75’ 90’ HT 0.76 1.42 38’ Jack Marriott (Reading), 0-1 38’ 52’ Liam Bennett (Cambridge United), 1-1 52’ 62’ Kell Watts (Cambridge United), 2-1 62’ 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0’ 15’ 30’ 45’ 60’ 75’ 90’ HT 0.76 1.42 38’ Jack Marriott (Reading), 0-1 Marriott 38’ 52’ Liam Bennett (Cambridge United), 1-1 Bennett 52’ 62’ Kell Watts (Cambridge United), 2-1 Watts 62’
Cambridge United 0.76 xGReading 1.42 xG Goal

Tap a goal for the scorer and score.

Shot map

Every shot and where it was taken from.

 Reading attacking Cambridge United attacking 
74’ Ben Knight (Cambridge United), open play, 0.20 xG, off target 16’ Kyreece Lisbie (Reading), open play, 0.19 xG, blocked 51’ Paddy Lane (Reading), open play, 0.19 xG, off target 71’ Shayne Lavery (Cambridge United), from a corner, 0.17 xG, saved 31’ Udoka Godwin-Malife (Reading), from a corner, 0.15 xG, blocked 38’ Jack Marriott (Reading), open play, 0.14 xG, goal 74’ Shayne Lavery (Cambridge United), open play, 0.10 xG, saved 76’ Randell Williams (Reading), open play, 0.10 xG, off target 40’ Paddy Lane (Reading), open play, 0.08 xG, saved 77’ Sullay Kaikai (Cambridge United), open play, 0.09 xG, off target 40’ George Earthy (Reading), open play, 0.08 xG, blocked 47’ George Earthy (Reading), open play, 0.07 xG, blocked 55’ Kyreece Lisbie (Reading), open play, 0.07 xG, off target 56’ George Earthy (Reading), open play, 0.06 xG, off target 64’ Kyreece Lisbie (Reading), open play, 0.06 xG, hit the woodwork 84’ Shayne Lavery (Cambridge United), open play, 0.05 xG, blocked 90’ Paddy Lane (Reading), open play, 0.05 xG, blocked 33’ George Earthy (Reading), open play, 0.05 xG, saved 74’ Jacob Brown (Reading), open play, 0.04 xG, off target 30’ Sullay Kaikai (Cambridge United), open play, 0.04 xG, off target 42’ Gassan Ahadme (Cambridge United), open play, 0.03 xG, blocked 61’ Sullay Kaikai (Cambridge United), from a corner, 0.03 xG, saved 52’ Liam Bennett (Cambridge United), open play, 0.02 xG, goal 51’ Jack Marriott (Reading), open play, 0.02 xG, saved 62’ Kell Watts (Cambridge United), from a corner, 0.02 xG, goal 64’ Lewis Wing (Reading), open play, 0.02 xG, blocked 81’ Lewis Wing (Reading), set piece, 0.02 xG, blocked 10’ Lewis Wing (Reading), open play, 0.02 xG, blocked 59’ Andy Rinomhota (Reading), open play, 0.02 xG, blocked 26’ Cathal Heffernan (Cambridge United), set piece, 0.01 xG, blocked 74’ Ben Knight (Cambridge United), open play, 0.20 xG, off target 51’ Paddy Lane (Reading), open play, 0.19 xG, off target 16’ Kyreece Lisbie (Reading), open play, 0.19 xG, blocked 71’ Shayne Lavery (Cambridge United), from a corner, 0.17 xG, saved 31’ Udoka Godwin-Malife (Reading), from a corner, 0.15 xG, blocked 38’ Jack Marriott (Reading), open play, 0.14 xG, goal 74’ Shayne Lavery (Cambridge United), open play, 0.10 xG, saved 76’ Randell Williams (Reading), open play, 0.10 xG, off target 40’ Paddy Lane (Reading), open play, 0.08 xG, saved 77’ Sullay Kaikai (Cambridge United), open play, 0.09 xG, off target 40’ George Earthy (Reading), open play, 0.08 xG, blocked 47’ George Earthy (Reading), open play, 0.07 xG, blocked 55’ Kyreece Lisbie (Reading), open play, 0.07 xG, off target 64’ Kyreece Lisbie (Reading), open play, 0.06 xG, hit the woodwork 56’ George Earthy (Reading), open play, 0.06 xG, off target 84’ Shayne Lavery (Cambridge United), open play, 0.05 xG, blocked 90’ Paddy Lane (Reading), open play, 0.05 xG, blocked 33’ George Earthy (Reading), open play, 0.05 xG, saved 30’ Sullay Kaikai (Cambridge United), open play, 0.04 xG, off target 74’ Jacob Brown (Reading), open play, 0.04 xG, off target 61’ Sullay Kaikai (Cambridge United), from a corner, 0.03 xG, saved 42’ Gassan Ahadme (Cambridge United), open play, 0.03 xG, blocked 52’ Liam Bennett (Cambridge United), open play, 0.02 xG, goal 51’ Jack Marriott (Reading), open play, 0.02 xG, saved 62’ Kell Watts (Cambridge United), from a corner, 0.02 xG, goal 64’ Lewis Wing (Reading), open play, 0.02 xG, blocked 81’ Lewis Wing (Reading), set piece, 0.02 xG, blocked 10’ Lewis Wing (Reading), open play, 0.02 xG, blocked 59’ Andy Rinomhota (Reading), open play, 0.02 xG, blocked 26’ Cathal Heffernan (Cambridge United), set piece, 0.01 xG, blocked
Size shows xG Goal On target Off target or blocked

Hover or tap a shot for the player, minute and xG.

Lineups

Cambridge United 4-1-3-2 Starting XI
Eastwood
Bennett
Heffernan
Watts
Perry 85’
Ball
Kaikai
Knight 90’
Moxon 46’
Bangura-Williams 46’
Ahadme 85’
Reading 4-2-3-1 Starting XI
Pereira
Godwin-Malife
O’Connor
Ward
Roberts 78’
Wing
Rinomhota 78’
Lisbie 72’
Earthy
Lane
Marriott 72’

Player stats

Goalkeeper1 player
Jake Eastwood
90′ 3 1 28 – – – – –
Defenders6 players
Liam Bennett
90′ – 3 1 4 2 21 – 1 – –
Cathal Heffernan
90′ 2 – 2 2 – 27 – – – –
Kell Watts
90′ 1 – 1 4 2 46 – 1 – –
Callum Perry Taken off
85′ 3 1 – 4 1 36 1 – 1
Zak Bradshaw Came on as a substitute
10′ – – – – – 2 – – – –
Sam Curtis Came on as a substitute
10′ – – – 1 1 1 – – – –
Midfielders6 players
Dominic Ball
90′ – – 33 – 0.02 – 1 2 – – –
Ben Knight Taken off
89′ – – 27 1 0.04 – 1 2 – 2 –
Owen Moxon Taken off
45′ – – 31 1 0.07 2 2 3 – – –
Sullay Kaikai
90′ – – 29 – 0.05 4 2 6 2 – –
Raees Bangura-Williams Taken off
45′ – – 6 1 0.00 1 – 1 1 – –
Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu Came on as a substitute
45′ – 1 15 2 0.11 – – 1 – – –
Forwards2 players
Gassan Ahadme Taken off
85′ – – 1 – 0.03 0.04 1 15 4 19
Shayne Lavery Came on as a substitute
45′ – – 3 2 0.32 0.00 – 3 1 10 –
Came on Taken off Sent off Red is the most in that position for the team

Every player who took the pitch, starters first and then substitutes. A dash means none. xG and xA are expected goals and assists.

Before kick-off

Cambridge United win 35% Avg odds 2.68
Draw 28% Avg odds 3.30
Reading win 37% Avg odds 2.51

Chances implied by the average closing odds, with the bookmaker margin removed.

Form going into the game

Cambridge United WDLWD
Reading LLDWW

Last five league games before this one, oldest first. Select one to open it.

Previous and next meeting

 Previous meeting: Cambridge United 1-3 Reading, 01 Jan 25 Next meeting: Reading vs Cambridge United, 20 Feb 27 (upcoming)  All Cambridge United vs Reading meetings

Shots, expected goals, timeline, lineups, team and player statistics from Bzzoiro Sports Data (sports.bzzoiro.com). Results and odds from football-data.co.uk.