Report: Reading 1 United 1

23/09/2006 18:06, Report by Steve Bartram
Cristiano Ronaldo's second-half strike salvaged a point for United as they came from behind to register their first draw of the season at Reading.

Kevin Doyle's penalty had put Steve Coppell's side into the lead but, despite Ronaldo's leveller, Sir Alex Ferguson will feel his side should have taken all three points, having enjoyed the lion's share of possession and chances at the Madejski Stadium.

Four changes were made to the side that lost against Arsenal last weekend. Gabriel Heinze and Nemanja Vidic made their first starts of the season, while Michael Carrick and Edwin van der Sar returned to the starting line-up.

Top scorer Louis Saha started the afternoon on the bench, having sustained a slight hamstring strain in training.

United were quick out of the blocks, and almost took the lead inside two minutes as Wayne Rooney's long-range effort was kept out by Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann.

The American stopper also managed to block Kieran Richardson's follow-up as the hosts survived the scare intact.

Paul Scholes and Cristiano Ronaldo quickly emerged as two of United's finest performers, and they were instrumental in United's best play all afternoon.

credit: manutd.com