The Madejski Stadium, which could hold 24,000 supporters, was almost full, with nearly 20,000 spectators in attendance.
Both local Reading broadcasters and television stations from Manchester had attached great importance to the fixture, broadcasting the standout match of the round live.
However, no one had expected what should have been a fiercely contested game to descend into chaos almost immediately.
Even Martin Tyler, who had been highly optimistic about New Manchester United, was forced to admit that the Red Rebels were in serious trouble.
New Manchester United started with Drogba at centre-forward, Malouda and Hleb on the wings, and Senna, De Rossi, and Essien in midfield.
The back four consisted of Abidal, Terry, Chiellini, and Touré, with Almunia in goal.
Aside from Juninho's injury and Curtis's suspension for accumulated yellow cards, which forced Mourinho to select De Rossi and the young Chiellini, this was essentially the strongest side available and included most of the team's best performers that season.
When considering how to replace Curtis, Mourinho had initially wanted to use Hangeland.
The Norwegian had rotated with Terry several times and performed very well. He had also developed a good understanding with Curtis.
However, Reading's two forwards were both extremely quick.
Since Hangeland and Terry were not especially agile when turning, Mourinho abandoned the idea.
Another reasonable option was to move Abidal into central defence.
However, he had not played there for a year.
Mourinho also remained concerned about Evra's defensive reliability at left-back, particularly because Reading were dangerous on both wings.
In the end, Mourinho chose Chiellini.
The Italian had replaced Curtis several times that season.
Although he had made a few mistakes, his overall performances had been respectable. His pace also complemented Terry's qualities.
Combined with his recent hard work in training and rapid improvement, Mourinho believed he deserved an opportunity.
No one could have expected that less than ten minutes into the match, Chiellini would make an unnecessary mistake near the edge of the penalty area and commit a foul.
The Reading striker fell inside the box, and the referee, following the play from behind, almost instinctively showed Chiellini a yellow card and awarded a penalty.
...
"Oh, my word. The replay clearly shows that although Chiellini's challenge was unnecessary, it definitely took place outside the penalty area," Scarlett said angrily.
"This is unquestionably the wrong decision. Reading should not have been awarded a penalty!"
Martin Tyler shook his head with a bitter smile.
"The referee's mistake could have enormous consequences for New Manchester United.
"We can see Mourinho on the touchline repeatedly signalling to the assistant referee that the foul occurred outside the box.
"He looks extremely agitated, and understandably so. This is a crucial match that could determine who leads the table."
"Before kickoff, we received news from Brentford that the home side were already leading their opponents 2-0.
"Brentford should have little difficulty winning that match, but if New Manchester United lose to Reading, the gap between them will increase."
"Wait, what's happening now?" Scarlett suddenly exclaimed.
"The referee has gone to the touchline and shown Mourinho a red card. The New Manchester United manager has been sent off!"
"My word, this referee must have lost control of the situation," Martin Tyler said, shaking his head repeatedly.
"He's sent off New Manchester United's manager after already awarding a highly questionable penalty.
"Is there anything more absurd than this? Does he intend to decide the entire match himself?"
Martin Tyler gave another bitter smile.
He believed the referee's decisions were deeply troubling.
"I sincerely hope the FA improves referee training, especially for officials working in the lower divisions.
"The standard is simply too poor.
"In the opening stages of such an important match, the referee has awarded an incorrect penalty and then dismissed the visiting manager.
"The imbalance in his decisions is impossible to ignore."
On the live broadcast, Mourinho continued turning back and saying something toward the assistant referee and the referee.
He walked to the dugout, exchanged a few words with his assistants, and then disappeared down the players' tunnel.
"Reading have the penalty.
"Their number nine is stepping forward to take it.
"He scores!"
The moment the ball entered the net, the Madejski Stadium erupted.
However, the cheers were mixed with loud boos from New Manchester United's travelling supporters, who were clearly furious about the decision.
"New Manchester United's supporters have every reason to be angry about the way this match has unfolded," Martin Tyler said sympathetically.
"In less than ten minutes, their manager has been sent off, their opponents have been awarded a penalty, and starting centre-back Chiellini has received an early yellow card.
"That booking will hang over him for the rest of the match."
"But the supporters are still giving the players everything they have," Scarlett said, sounding slightly reassured.
Although the New Manchester United fans were heavily outnumbered, they produced tremendous noise from the away section.
They continued singing the club anthem, their voices loud and defiant.
After Mourinho's dismissal, Cassell assumed responsibility on the touchline.
He repeatedly moved to the edge of the technical area, urging the players to remain focused, preserve their shape, and deny Reading any further opportunities.
...
Terry looked at Chiellini beside him.
The young defender appeared nervous and unsettled.
Terry then glanced at the captain's armband on his own sleeve.
With Juninho and Curtis both absent, he had become New Manchester United's captain on the pitch.
He felt he needed to do something.
"Hey, Giorgio! Don't panic. Stay focused and watch what's in front of you.
"Keep track of your teammates' positions and play exactly as you do in training. Understood?" Terry shouted.
Chiellini nodded vigorously, but Terry could see that his hands were tightly clasped and his legs were trembling slightly.
He was still worried.
After all, Chiellini had only recently turned seventeen.
Sure enough, during Reading's next attack, Chiellini failed to recover quickly enough.
The opposition played a ball into the space behind him.
Fortunately, Terry raced across and cleared it into touch with a powerful kick.
"Hey, Giorgio! What's wrong with you?" Terry shouted as he ran toward him.
Chiellini shook his head repeatedly.
"N-nothing!"
"You're too nervous, mate!"
Terry gripped Chiellini firmly by the sides of the head.
The noise from Reading's supporters forced them to shout so loudly that anyone watching from a distance might have thought they were arguing.
"This is a crucial match. We're already behind, and you can't afford to panic.
"You're on a yellow card. Do you understand?"
Terry tried to force his young teammate back to his senses.
He then looked toward Cassell on the touchline and shook his head.
Chiellini was still too young.
He performed well in training, but this was not training.
This was a high-pressure match.
Cassell now understood more clearly than ever how much pressure Mourinho faced while managing from the touchline.
He needed to make a decision quickly, yet his thoughts were in complete disorder.
The manager had been sent off.
One of the centre-backs was already booked.
Reading were playing with growing confidence and creating threat after threat.
What was he supposed to do?
"Damn it!" Cassell turned around angrily just as Faria hurried toward him.
"Jim!" Faria leaned close and whispered several words into his ear.
Cassell looked up toward the stands and saw Ethan holding up his phone, with Mourinho sitting beside him.
Cassell nodded, moved toward the substitutes' bench, and told Bosingwa to warm up.
The message Ethan had sent Faria instructed them to replace Chiellini immediately, move Touré into central defence, and bring Bosingwa on at right-back.
Cassell had been struggling to decide what to do.
He also knew Mourinho would fully support the change, so he acted at once.
But events on the pitch moved faster than substitutions could be made.
After conceding the penalty, New Manchester United endured twenty-five minutes of relentless Reading pressure.
They defended stubbornly through sheer determination.
Even Drogba repeatedly dropped into his own penalty area to help.
Then, during a Reading corner, the referee blew his whistle once again.
Everyone on the pitch froze.
Reading's main striker was lying near the front post, while Chiellini stood beside him in confusion, staring blankly at his teammates.
He felt completely cut off from the world.
His ears were ringing, and his mind was empty.
The only thing he could see clearly was the yellow card held high in the referee's hand.
A moment later, it was followed by a red.
Every New Manchester United player rushed toward the referee and demanded to know why Chiellini had been booked.
The official repeatedly indicated that Chiellini had raised an elbow toward the opposing player's face.
"The replay shows that Chiellini's movement was little more than an instinctive reaction while he was being held by his opponent," Scarlett said indignantly.
"Because of the difference in height, his arm accidentally caught the Reading player in the face.
"To produce a yellow card for that is extremely difficult to understand."
Chiellini walked off the pitch in a daze.
His teammates comforted him as he passed, but the pressure had clearly become too much for the young defender to bear.
The television cameras even captured tears gathering in his eyes.
It was a painful sight.
However, the match continued.
After Chiellini left the pitch, the referee signalled for Reading to take the corner.
The delivery was driven low toward the near post.
Almunia read its path quickly and charged from his line.
He dived forward and gathered the ball firmly.
The Reading striker could not stop his run and collided directly with him.
Just as the New Manchester United players breathed a sigh of relief, the referee blew his whistle once more.
He penalised Almunia for a foul and awarded Reading another penalty.
The New Manchester United players were furious.
They surrounded the referee and demanded an explanation.
Almunia had clearly reached the ball first.
How could he possibly have committed the foul?
The referee indicated that Almunia had caught the striker before gathering the ball.
"Sir, you should understand what consequences this decision could bring!" Drogba said, glaring fiercely at him.
Without hesitation, the referee showed Drogba a yellow card.
The situation immediately threatened to spiral out of control.
Drogba and Essien, who was standing nearby, were almost driven beyond reason and appeared ready to confront the referee physically.
Fortunately, Terry and Senna rushed over and held them back.
Then everyone noticed that Almunia was still lying inside the penalty area.
He had not moved.
He was clutching his right hand in obvious pain.
(To be continued.)