George Puscas ended his goalscoring drought in dramatic fashion as he smashed in a second half hat-trick in just five minutes to give Reading a big win on the road at Wigan. The Royals looked to be heading for a defeat, with Puscas looking largely anonymous, until his three goals turned the fixture around and gave Reading three points as they pulled further away from the bottom three.
Reading were behind for most of the game after Wigan took the lead just after the half hour mark. Rafael made a save from a header after a corner but couldn't stop the rebound being scored from close range. Despite Reading having plenty of the ball in the first half they rarely threatened and instead it was Wigan that might have doubled their lead before half time but the ball defelcted just wide of Rafael's post. Puscas failed to take an opportunity towards the end of the half and it was looking like it might be another one of those days for the Reading striker.
However, Puscas pulled Reading level on 79 minutes, putting his penalty straight down the middle after Boye was fouled in the area. A minute later Puscas twisted through the Wigan defence to put Reading ahead and get his second with an excellent finish. Garath McCleary, enjoying his time back in the Reading team, was provider with the cross that saw Puscas complete his dramatic quick-fire hat-trick - and an important win for Reading - on 84 minutes.
Five Minute Puscas Hat-Trick Steals Win
From the Discussion
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HN hughsies no.1 1 Dec 2019 · 7:59am
First 75 minutes - freezing cold, looking around at an empty stadium, looking at my team who just didn’t look like scoring and were being beaten by a dreadful Wigan side , thinking what the F am I still doing here... Then as football has a funny way doing, it turned out to be a top away day, three goals, winning from behind and a Puscas hat-trick - making me realise why I was still there! Views on the game: - Team news was obviously worrying with no Ejaria or Swift and zero creativity in the middle of the park - Wigan were dreadful, very sloppy goal for us to concede but aside from that offered nothing and certainly a team we…
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SP St Pauli 1 Dec 2019 · 8:03am
Thought about going to this, but was 213 miles away in Leith, Scotland, so went to Hibs Killie instead. No alcohol available inside the ground wtf?
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WE WestRoyal 1 Dec 2019 · 9:23am
First 75 minutes - freezing cold, looking around at an empty stadium, looking at my team who just didn’t look like scoring and were being beaten by a dreadful Wigan side , thinking what the F am I still doing here... Then as football has a funny way doing, it turned out to be a top away day, three goals, winning from behind and a Puscas hat-trick - making me realise why I was still there! Views on the game: - Team news was obviously worrying with no Ejaria or Swift and zero creativity in the middle of the park - Wigan were dreadful, very sloppy goal for us to concede but aside from that offered nothing and certainly a team we…
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SR Snowflake Royal 1 Dec 2019 · 9:29am
First 75 minutes - freezing cold, looking around at an empty stadium, looking at my team who just didn’t look like scoring and were being beaten by a dreadful Wigan side , thinking what the F am I still doing here... Then as football has a funny way doing, it turned out to be a top away day, three goals, winning from behind and a Puscas hat-trick - making me realise why I was still there! Views on the game: - Team news was obviously worrying with no Ejaria or Swift and zero creativity in the middle of the park - Wigan were dreadful, very sloppy goal for us to concede but aside from that offered nothing and certainly a team we…
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JA Jagermesiter1871 1 Dec 2019 · 9:41am
First 75 minutes - freezing cold, looking around at an empty stadium, looking at my team who just didn’t look like scoring and were being beaten by a dreadful Wigan side , thinking what the F am I still doing here... Then as football has a funny way doing, it turned out to be a top away day, three goals, winning from behind and a Puscas hat-trick - making me realise why I was still there! Views on the game: - Team news was obviously worrying with no Ejaria or Swift and zero creativity in the middle of the park - Wigan were dreadful, very sloppy goal for us to concede but aside from that offered nothing and certainly a team we…
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WE WestRoyal 1 Dec 2019 · 9:47am
First 75 minutes - freezing cold, looking around at an empty stadium, looking at my team who just didn’t look like scoring and were being beaten by a dreadful Wigan side , thinking what the F am I still doing here... Then as football has a funny way doing, it turned out to be a top away day, three goals, winning from behind and a Puscas hat-trick - making me realise why I was still there! Views on the game: - Team news was obviously worrying with no Ejaria or Swift and zero creativity in the middle of the park - Wigan were dreadful, very sloppy goal for us to concede but aside from that offered nothing and certainly a team we…
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SR Snowflake Royal 1 Dec 2019 · 9:55am
Cabral - 6 very little to do, but spilled a tricky save into danger for their goal. Yiadom - 6 some good some bad, provides a real out let, but still holds onto it too long too often and should mix up cutting inside with whipping in more crosses Richards - 5 not a great game by his recent standards Moore - 7 not a set piece taker :lol: but solid in defence Morrison - 7 I love this guy in the middle of a three Miazga - 7 defensively good as always but did 'block' Meite's piledriver. :lol: Rinomhota - 6 quite than normal but more attacking responsibility that doesn't quite suit him Pele - 7 some really good moments McCleary - 6…
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SR Snowflake Royal 1 Dec 2019 · 9:59am
In ref to mccleary I think he has just as much quality as those two when played in his natural winger position and this was telling for the third goal. If Bowen plays a formation to accommodate a winger, mccleary will be involved for sure. Didn't the third goal (as the one the other week when he definitely wasn't playing wide) come from McCleary pressing high centrally and stealing the ball? Meite caused loads of problems in the first half. As he did against Leeds. To be honest I'd have fancied him to score the pen or Puscas's third if he was Johnny on the spot. McCleary's first touch for much of the game was terrible. So your…