Generation adidas falls in first game
Team comprised of MLS players loses 1-0 to Reading FC reserves
The game was fairly even, with Generation adidas having more of the possession but failing to put the ball in the back of the Reading goal.
Reading scored in the 20th minute when a pass from Eric Avila (FC Dallas) in the midfield was intercepted by a Reading midfielder and played to center forward David Mooney. His low, hard shot, tight to the post, beat goalkeeper Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake) to his right-hand side.
The best opportunity for the MLS squad came in the 77th minute when Avila dribbled through the Reading defense, but his shot was blocked by the outstretched foot of goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.
The two U.S. players currently at Reading, Marcus Hahnemann and Bobby Convey, both of whom played in MLS, came to the match and spent time greeting the current MLS players.
The Generation adidas team brought in forward Davide Somma (San Jose Earthquakes), who was literally picked up from the airport and brought to the game. Somma became the 16th player brought into the squad, called in as Abdus Ibrahim (Toronto FC) was the only forward available for the trip.
The referee for the first match of the Generation adidas tour was former top Premiership referee Dermot Gallagher.
Up next for the Generation adidas squad will be the Chelsea reserves on Wednesday.
Reading FC vs. MLS Select (Generation adidas)
December 6, 2008 -- Hogwood Park Training Ground
Reading FC: Alex McCarthy; Julian Kelly, Scott Golbourne, Oliver Boxanic, Andre Bikey (68: Won Sik Kim), Clovis Kamdjo, Mchail Antonio (46: Jake Taylor), Hal Robson-Kanu, David Mooney (46: Tae Hee Nam), Gylfi Sigurdsson, Nicholas Bignall
Generation adidas: Chris Seitz (46: Josh Lambo); Tony Beltran, Bakary Soumare, Rob Valentino, Amaechi Igwe, Anthony Wallace, Eric Avila, Bruno Guarda (46: Davide Somma), Roger Espinoza (60: Tim Ward), Alex Nimo (Ciaran O'Brien), Abdus Ibrahim
