Michael Olise runs rampant for Reading in plain sailing win over Sheffield Wednesday

It was a straightforward afternoon for Veljko Paunović’s Royals as his side swept aside Sheffield Wednesday in a 3-0 win. Midfielder Michael Olise showcased why several clubs are keeping tabs on the 19-year old.

Michael Olise, Lucas Joao and Andy Yiadom sealed Reading all three points and a third successive league win on Saturday afternoon.

Not only that, it was Royals’ third successive clean sheet in the division.

The catalyst for Reading’s triumph came after 30 minutes of play. Sheffield Wednesday defender Julian Börner was shown red after he hacked down George Puscas in the area, denying a goal-scoring opportunity. It was Börner’s error that led to the Owls’ catastrophe. The German had no choice but to bring Puscas down.

Reading haven’t been the most clinical from the spot this season, with star striker Lucas Joao missing three from the spot. Royals architect Michael Olise took responsibility from the spot and dispatched it perfectly in the top left corner, sending Wednesday goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith the wrong way.
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Paunović explained why Olise was on penalty duty:

“The most important thing is that we have penalty executors. We gave chances to Lucas but once he was not comfortable taking them anymore, it was the next man up.

“In this case it was Michael who had a huge desire to step in. You have to show they matter to you and you are efficient – and this is Michael’s case.

“Puscas is another one in the line.”

After scoring the opener, Olise flourished. He was courageous, took risks and was in all honesty, refreshing to watch.

Olise had the license to free roam. The winger now attacking midfielder played in between the lines, often dropped deep to receive the ball and drifted past players like they weren’t even there. He’d occupy the right-wing but took up an inverted winger role, tucked inside, like a number ten at times.

The English-born midfielder was involved once more before half-time. Josh Laurent intercepted a Wednesday pass before passing the ball to Puscas. The forward laid the ball off for Olise to strike, who skewed his effort high and wide of the post on his weaker right foot.

The hosts had a golden opportunity to double the scoring on the stroke of half-time. It was that man Olise at the forefront again, swinging in a mouthwatering corner for a Reading shirt to attack. Liam Moore met the cross but his header tame, bouncing straight into the arms of Wildsmith.

Reading started the second-half the same way they finished the first: creative, patient and direct. Creator Olise delivered an inswinger towards talisman Lucas Joao, but the striker’s first-time volley was rash, although the contact on the ball was good.

Paunović’s men were relentless in their amount of attacking phases and refused to let Sheffield Wednesday back in the game. Lucas Joao heard the shouts of ”we need to make it 2-0” from the Royals’ back-line so he decided to finish off an impeccable Reading move on the 65th-minute mark.
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McIntyre started it off, flicking the ball around the corner to Olise. The Frenchman drove with the ball whilst Sheffield Wednesday’s centre-backs stood off him.

Reading’s number seven slid the ball into Yiadom’s path down the right-hand side, who cut the ball back to Lucas Joao to finish. It was Joao’s 20th goal in 29 appearances in all competition’s for the Royals this season and to no surprise, Olise assisted the assist.

It was an afternoon to cherish for Ghanian Andy Yiadom too, as the full-back rifled a shot past Wildsmith and into the bottom left corner after 88 minutes to make it 3-0 to the home side. It was the 29-year old’s first goal and assist of the campaign.

Paunović’s relentless Reading jumped up into a spot in the Play-Offs with a dominant display. Olise and co will look to make it four wins on the bounce, as well as four consecutive clean sheets next Saturday at Nottingham Forest.

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