Robson-Kanu rescues Reading

Substitute Hal Robson-Kanu struck a
late leveller to grab struggling Reading
a dramatic 3-3 draw with Fulham at the
Madejski Stadium.
Fulham seemed sure to take the points
with a minute left courtesy of Dimitar
Berbatov's expert finish, but Robson-
Kanu bundled home at the death to
ensure a draw.
Brian McDermott's hosts - without a
Premier League win this season - were
bright early on and would have led but
for Pavel Pogrebnyak heading
wastefully wide from three yards out.
At the other end, Berbatov began to
drop slightly deeper to link up play,
and the Bulgarian had flown a warning
shot over from 25 yards by the time he
teed up for Mahamadou Diarra to do
the same.
In the event, it was Mikele Leigertwood
who found the net first - the midfielder
striding onto Jobi McAnuff's lay-off and
flying a sweet drive into the top corner
from 20 yards.
Damien Duff wasted an inviting chance
to equalise just before the break when
he sent Kieran Richardson's cut-back
wide of goal, and Jason Roberts nearly
punished his folly early in the second
period when his effort was smothered
by Mark Schwarzer.
But on the hour, substitute Bryan Ruiz
announced himself with a stunning 20-
yard strike that gave Alex McCarthy no
chance - and Fulham continued to look
the more threatening as Berbatov
dragged into the side-netting.
Home fans fell silent with 13 minutes
left when Chris Baird nodded home
John Arne Riise's corner from close-
range - but three goals in the final five
minutes meant proceedings were far
from over.
Garath McCleary, also on as a
substitute, benefited from Roberts'
miscontrol to convert from eight yards
with an assured finish, only for the
Cottagers to surge ahead again when
Berbatov bent home beautifully in the
88th minute.
But with the clock ticking into injury
time, Nicky Shorey whipped a free-kick
to the far post and as the visiting
defence struggled to hack the ball
clear, Robson-Kanu popped up to
force home from two yards and bag a
morale-boosting point.