Matt Macey was Colchester’s hero as they knocked League One side Reading out of the Carabao Cup on penalties.
Macey saved from Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Amadou Mbengue as the U’s won the shoot-out 4-3, after the first-round tie had finished 2-2 after 90 minutes.
Colchester took a third-minute lead through Tom Hopper, who headed home from Jack Payne’s corner.
Reading defender Abraham Kanu was booked after fouling Samson Tovide when the striker was galloping towards goal.
And Kanu was fortunate not to have been shown a second yellow card minutes later for another foul on Tovide, so much so that he was almost immediately taken off by Reading boss Ruben Selles.
The U’s doubled their advantage in the 55th minute when Payne scored from the spot, after Owura Edwards had been fouled by Kelvin Abrefa in the box.
But Reading got back into the tie in the 65th minute through Charlie Savage, whose spectacular 25-yard strike flew past Colchester goalkeeper Macey and in.
And Reading equalised in the 73rd minute through Lewis Wing, who scored directly with a 20-yard free-kick into the bottom corner.
But the tie went to penalties and Colchester prevailed, to book their place in the second round.
