READING opened their maiden Premiership campaign on a triumphant note when Leroy Lita completed a stunning comeback from the newcomers. Boro were on course for victory when Stewart Downing and Aiyegbeni Yakubu fired them into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

But the scoreline clearly flattered Boro and as the first half neared its conclusion Reading levelled through Dave Kitson and Steve Sidwell before Lita hit the winner in the 56th minute.

The Madejski Stadium crackled with expectation at Reading's start but home fans were soon brought back down to earth when Boro opened the scoring in the 11th minute.

George Boateng made the initial inroads through midfield before feeding Aiyegbeni Yakubu who picked out Downing at the far post with a precision cross that the 22-year-old buried.

Steve Sidwell blazed over as the lively Bobby Convey continued to get some joy down the left but a mistake then saw Reading concede a second in the 21st minute.

James Harper hacked down Yakubu on the edge of the area and Fabio Rochemback managed to slip a low free-kick through the wall.

The ball travelled into the arms of Marcus Hahnemann but he then spilt it forward into the path of Yakubu who gleefully prodded home.

But Reading dominated the last 20 minutes of the half and their endeavour was rewarded with two goals shortly before the interval. Seol KiHyeon supplied a cross that should have been cleared but Kitson pounced as a trio of Boro players, including Schwarzer, dithered. Reading fans were then sent delirious when an unmarked Sidwell smashed home after picking up an Ingimarsson pass. After seeing their heroes peg back a two-gaol deficit, Reading fans were given sight of an unlikely victory as they went 3-2 ahead in the 56th minute. Once again Seol's intelligent running did the damage with the Korean squaring to Doyle who almost managed to scramble home.

The ball popped out of the melee of Boro defenders who failed to clear and substitute Leroy Lita . . . on for Kitson who had not returned for the second half . . . scored.

Mark Viduka appeared to have snatched a point with eight minutes to go after turning in James Morrison's cross but the linesman's flag went up for offside.