Jeff Hendrick's goal was his fourth of the season for Reading
Reading came back from 2-0 down to rescue a point at home to high-flying Watford in the Championship.
Ismaila Sarr's close-range effort put the Hornets in front after half an hour as Watford had the better of the first period.
The visitors doubled their lead shortly after the break as debutant Ryan Porteous headed in a corner, while Sarr had a third disallowed soon after for offside.
Reading earned a lifeline when Tom Ince converted from the penalty spot before Sarr had a second disallowed, only for Jeff Hendrick to volley in a late equaliser for the Royals.
Despite dropping two points Watford still move up a place to fifth in the Championship table, while Reading remain in 16th place.
- Relive Saturday's EFL action
Reading almost went ahead after 16 minutes as Ince's fierce low shot was saved by Daniel Bachmann.
Sarr curled a 20th-minute effort just past the post before he gave Watford the lead - a ball over the top found Henrique Araujo and he cut it back for Sarr to finish from a few inches out.
The Hornets could have been 2-0 up at the break, but Araujo blasted an effort into the side-netting after forcing his way into the box.
Joe Lumley did well to save from Sarr soon after the break, but from the resulting corner Scotland defender Porteous, who joined from Hibernian last week, took advantage of some poor marking to head home.
An offside flag prevented a second for Sarr seven minutes later, and the Royals were able to capitalise.
Shane Long got in front of Craig Cathcart and the Northern Ireland centre-back tripped the Republic of Ireland striker, with Ince smashing in his seventh goal of the season from 12 yards.
Royals substitute Femi Azeez had a volley well saved by Daniel Bachmann six minutes later before more drama, as Sarr went off celebrating thinking he had won it only for the flag to go up.
The dust had barely settled when Hendrick got the equaliser, the Irish midfielder firing in Ince's deep corner in spectacular style.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsReading
Formation 3-5-2
1Lumley27Mbengue3Holmes5McIntyre17Yiadom22Loum8Hendrick20Casadei23Hoilett10Ince7Long
- 1Lumley27MbengueBooked at 32minsSubstituted forDannat 86'minutes3HolmesBooked at 84mins5McIntyre17Yiadom22LoumBooked at 87mins8Hendrick20CasadeiSubstituted forFornahat 56'minutes23HoilettSubstituted forAzeezat 67'minutes10Ince7LongSubstituted forMeiteat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Dann9Lucas João11Meite15Azeez18Guinness-Walker19Fornah21Bouzanis
Watford
Formation 4-2-2-2
1Bachmann3M Gaspar22Porteous15Cathcart14Kamara25Bacuna4Choudhury37Martins23Sarr21Araújo7Davis
- 1Bachmann3M Gaspar22Porteous15Cathcart14KamaraBooked at 76mins25BacunaSubstituted forKonéat 81'minutes4ChoudhuryBooked at 90mins37MartinsBooked at 64minsSubstituted forAdeyemoat 81'minutes23Sarr21AraújoSubstituted forAssombalongaat 71'minutes7DavisSubstituted forJoão Pedroat 71'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 10João Pedro11Koné26Hamer34Assombalonga42Morris44Hoedt54Adeyemo
Referee:Steve MartinAttendance:13,861Match StatsHome TeamReadingAway TeamWatfordPossessionHome42%Away58%ShotsHome14Away12Shots on TargetHome6Away4CornersHome4Away4FoulsHome17Away17Live Text Post update
Match ends, Reading 2, Watford 2.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 2, Watford 2.
90'+5'Booking
Hamza Choudhury (Watford) is shown the yellow card.
90'+4'Booking
João Pedro (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by João Pedro (Watford).
90'+3'Post update
Tom Ince (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'Post update
Tobi Adeyemo (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
89'Post update
Foul by Tyrese Fornah (Reading).
88'Post update
Attempt missed. Yakou Meite (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
88'Post update
Attempt blocked. Jeff Hendrick (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andy Yiadom.
87'Booking
Mamadou Loum (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
86'Post update
João Pedro (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
86'Post update
Foul by Mamadou Loum (Reading).
86'Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Scott Dann replaces Amadou Salif Mbengue.
86'Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Yakou Meite replaces Shane Long.
84'Booking
Thomas Holmes (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
84'Post update
Tobi Adeyemo (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
84'Post update
Foul by Thomas Holmes (Reading).
82'Post update
Ismaïla Sarr (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
82'Post update
Foul by Andy Yiadom (Reading).
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Source: bbc.com