Blackburn Rovers Under-21s suffered a late 3-2 defeat to Reading, with the visitors snatching victory with a stoppage-time winner.
A five-goal thriller at Leyland was settled in the 91st minute by Torin Ntege, inflicting a second Premier League 2 defeat of the season on Paul Butler's side.
The Royals took the lead on 19 minutes when Matteo Dashi’s curling effort from the edge of the area found the bottom corner via a slight deflection.
However, Rovers responded almost immediately. Frank Vare picked out Harry Lister just outside the box and the forward showed excellent footwork before firing a superb finish into the bottom corner for his second goal in as many matches.
Both sides threatened in an open first half. Dashi flashed another effort narrowly wide, while Lucas Houghton delivered a dangerous cross that Harvey Pates volleyed over.
Lister then came close to putting Rovers ahead but saw his lifted effort brilliantly saved, before Harvey Higgins dragged a shot inches wide from a corner.
Reading regained the lead in unfortunate circumstances on the stroke of half-time. With Vare forced off injured and Rovers temporarily down to 10 men, Callum Cliff’s strike took a huge deflection and looped over stranded goalkeeper Felix Goddard.
Rovers returned strongly after the interval. Substitute Jayden Sergeant felt he should have been awarded a penalty after being challenged in the box, but appeals were waved away.
The equaliser arrived on 58 minutes and was worth the wait. A slick move started at the back before Houghton delivered a superb cross from the right. Higgins met it with an outstretched boot, steering a stunning volley into the top corner to make it 2-2.
Butler’s side then took control and created several chances to win the game. Higgins was denied after capitalising on defensive uncertainty, while Lister struck the post with a brilliant left-footed effort. Pates volleyed narrowly over and Sergeant fired just wide as Reading struggled to contain the hosts.
But despite Rovers’ dominance, Reading claimed all three points in dramatic fashion. Deep into added time, John Ryan’s cross found Ntege at the far post and his header squeezed over the line to secure a heartbreaking victory for the visitors.
ROVERS XI: Goddard; Houghton, Decandia, McIlroy, Rice, Pates; Dunn, Ball; Vare (Sergeant 46), Lister, Higgins.
Subs not used: Taylor, Goremusandu, Mansbridge, Leatherbarrow, Ouattara, McCoy.
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