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Kodua stuns Reading as Luton hit from 3-1 down to earn bonkers victory League One: Reading 3 Luton Town 4 Gideon Kodua struck an injury time winner as Luton Town hit back from 3-1 down at half time to win an absolutely bonkers game of football at Reading this afternoon. With 45 minutes of the opening third tier contest of the season gone, the Hatters’ hopes and dreams of carrying on their fine finish from the 2025-26 campaign into the current one appeared to be over, trailing a 39-minute Jack Marriott hat-trick, as they faced losing for the first time since beaten by none other than the Royals on home soil in March, just prior to an incredible run of form, which almost ended with a play-off place. However, the visitors had other ideas, Kasey Palmer scoring not once but twice to restore parity before 10 minutes of the second period had passed, before Kodua was on hand at the death to find the net, right in front of packed away, to send nearly 2,500 travelling supporters into raptures. Rewinding back to the start of a breathless encounter in Berkshire, then having brought Emilio Lawrence from Manchester City 24 hours earlier, the young attacker was handed an immediate second debut for the club in place of academy graduate Benny Benagr who dropped to the bench, Palmer replacing the injured Jayden Luker. An open start to the contest saw Luton having to defend inside the opening 10 seconds, new Reading signing Kyreece Lisbie finding space in the area, his shot was blocked a posse of Town defenders. Palmer then curved wide from 25 yards, ending any thoughts the two teams would feel each other out on opening day, as the frantic beginning to proceedings simply continued, Town striking first on six minutes. With Lewis Wing and Liam Walsh involved in a tussle on the floor, referee Leigh Doughty let things carry on, as the visitors were able to play through the lines and transfer the ball to the right hand side where Jake Richards picked it up in a similar position to Gillingham last week. Against the Gills, he had shot straight at the keeper, but adjusted his radar to make sure there was no repeat, comfortably rolling past Joel Pereira and into the bottom corner to open his and the Hatters’ account for the league season. Just as the travelling supporters were starting to blare out, ‘we are top of the league,’ they then fell silent as a misjudged backpass from skipper Kal Naismith sold Josh Keeley short, Marriott, who else, nipping in to slide the ball past Town’s Irish international for an immediate leveller. Despite being pegged back, Luton’s midfield trio of Jordan Clark, Walsh and Palmer continued to look a step up in quality from their opponents, Walsh skimming a wonderful pass to the right that saw Izzy Jones win a corner, Clark freeing Nahki Wells with a terrific ball, the striker crowded out, before Clark put a snapshot straight at Joe Pereira. Following the roundly jeered hydration break, a strange passage of play ensured, as both teams looked like they were in the final stage of extra time, such were the gaps opening up and the almost basketball-style nature the fixture was taking on. It was Reading who took advantage on the half hour as Luton coughed up possession once more cheaply, which allowed Marriott a run at goal. Shown on to his left foot there looked little problem for Keeley when he had a crack from 22 yards, only for the ball to somehow escape the dive of the keeper and end up in the bottom corner of the net, putting the Royals ahead. Things became even worse on 39 minutes, as a ball out wide saw Naismith fall theatrically to the floor under pressure from Lisbie. Replays later showed it was a clear push from the Royals’ summer signing, but having been ordered to show more leniency this year, the man in the middle waved play on. It left Reading with a two-on-one situation, and they certainly made the most of it, Lisbie running away to find the unmarked Marriott who needed no second invitation to beat Keeley for an opening day trio. A furious Naismith argued his case with the officials afterwards, as did Luton’s bench, which led to a yellow card for Wilshere, but it was always going to be to no avail. Town tried to hit back before the break, Palmer’s shot charged down, but they were indebted to a well positioned Clark for clearing the danger from inside his own six yard box, as a fourth goal would have no doubt killed off any chance of a comeback in the second period. After the break, Wilshere’s side should really have been breached again just 60 seconds in, Marriott turning provider on this occasion, picking out Daniel Kyerewaa with the outside of his right boot, the attacker getting the better of Jones, but unable to beat Keeley, his miss proving crucial in what was to happen. The Hatters had a lifeline on 49 minutes, scoring early on yet again, a deep free kick sent in by Richards, headed out to Palmer some 16 yards from goal, who volleyed into the ground, the ball kicking up off the turf to beat the dive of Pereira and fly into the net. With their tails up, Luton levelled just two minutes later as a wonderful team move saw Clark flick the ball on to Richards. He cut inside and played a reverse ball to Wells, the striker clean through, drawing Pereira and unselfishly picking out Palmer to his left, the midfielder sidefooting beyond the scrambling Portuguese and into the net for his second to make it 3-3, Luton needing just seven minutes to be back on level terms. Palmer was able to run off an injury he appeared to have picked up, as on the hour mark, and the action finally beginning to slow down somewhat, man of the moment Benagr came on for Lawrence who had struggled to get to the pace of things on his return. Town’s teen star had an immediate impact too, sprinting away on the left and getting the ball into the box as it wouldn't quite drop for Richards, although Town won a corner. Midway through the half, Marriott’s reign of terror was finally ended as he was replaced by Jacob Brown, the ex-Hatter jeered by his former supporters having left Kenilworth Road in the summer, Josh Stokes also following him off, with Randell Williams on. The hydration break saw Callum Marshall introduced for his debut, replacing Wells, as neither side could really pick things up again to replicate the harum-scarum nature of the previous hour, Kodua and Harrison Ashby thrown on for the final nine minutes, although that was extended by a head injury to both Ashby and Hakeen Odoffin as the pair collided with each other when going to clear a loose ball. The Newcastle loanee was okay to carry on with his league debut for the Hatters, but Odoffin had to make his way off rather gingerly with a head bandage which saw Mads Andersen on for the closing stages. Into nine minutes of stoppage time and Town had a chance to grab the points when they pounced on a poor touch only for Clark to overhit his through ball as Pereira was able to slide in and gather ahead of Marshall. Ultimately it didn’t matter as Luton pressed again, and got their moment well into stoppage time when Kodua was left in space to fire against the underside of the bar. Richards followed up to get something on the rebound which fell invitingly for the substitute to keep his calm and clincically hammer into the net, the Hatters’ followers behind the goal besides themselves with glee. Reading still might have snatched a point at the death, Charlie Savage putting a good opportunity wide, but with Andersen clearing his lines effectively not once but twice, the Hatters ended a quite breathless encounter with all three points. Royals: Joel Pereira, Udoka Malife, Jeriel Dorsett, Andy Rinomhota (Liam Fraser 90), Jack Marriott (Jacob Brown 64), Lewis Wing (C), Daniel Kyerewaa (Paddy Lane 79), Paudie O’Connor, Benn Ward, Kyreece Lisbie (Charlie Savage 79), Josh Stokes (Radndell Williams 64). Subs not used: Jack Stevens, Ashqar Ahmed. Hatters: Josh Keeley, Izzy Jones (Harrison Ashby 81), Kal Naismith (C), Hakeem Odoffin (Mads Andersen 90), George Johnston, Liam Walsh, Jordan Clark, Kasey Palmer (Gideon Kodua 81), Emilio Lawrence (Benny Benagr 61), Jake Richards, Nahki Wells (Callum Marshall 70). Subs not used: James Shea, Sverre Sandal. Booked: Walsh 72, O’Connor 90. Referee: Leigh Doughty. Attendance: 14,065 (2,432 Hatters).