Brandon Forbes rescued a point for Norwich City Under-21s on Friday evening as they kicked off their Premier League 2 campaign against Reading in a 1-1 draw.
The visitors opened the scoring early on through Boyd Beacroft but the Canaries responded immediately for the only two goals of the game.
City's first chance was created by La'Sean Sealey down the right, who found Alan Domeracki open on the edge of the area waiting to cross to Forbes in the box, but Harrison Rhone was able to collect the headed effort.
Shortly after down the other end, Reading took the lead through Beacroft on the 15-minute mark.
A through ball from inside City's half found the defender through on goal, Beacroft shooting low and finding the back of Rylee Mitchell's net.
Norwich were behind for only five minutes, as a perfectly placed cross from Errol Mundle-Smith reached Forbes in the six-yard box, who volleyed an effort into the bottom corner for the equaliser.
Mundle-Smith continued to work well down the left, firing another cross into the box intended for Aboh, but a Reading shirt blocked the opportunity for a City shot.
Olly Lee's side then became the more threatening of the two, Domercaki looking to put the Canaries in front for the first time in this game.
The Scottish midfielder dragged an effort narrowly wide of the post before tapping in an effort from close-range that was ruled offside just before the break.
Reading started the second half on the front foot, substitute David Hicks firing an effort narrowly wide of the target with 54 minutes played.
With 15 minutes left on the clock and some fresh legs on the pitch, City were looking dangerous down the right side, efforts from Aboh and Mundle-Smith forcing Rhone to make some important blocks.
A late corner from AJ Bridge was well placed into the Reading box but no City heads were able to get on the end of it.
The fixture ended all square, meaning just a point on the board for the Under-21s side on the opening day of the 2025/26 campaign.
Norwich City: Mitchell; Okwumo, Adelusi, Gee, Ozcan; Towler (Chilvers 75), Domeracki (Djedje 84), Aboh (C); Mundle-Smith, Forbes (Bridge 70), Sealey (Jones 75).
Unused subs: Binnie.
Goals: Forbes (20)
Bookings: Bridge (90+5)
Reading: Rhone; Beacroft, Borgnis (C) (Howard 79), Duah, Chard (Williams 45+ 6); Ferguson, Okine-Peters, Bowdery; Sackey, Barough (Coke Miles-Smith 79), Evans (Hicks 49).
Unused subs: Welland.
Goals: Beacroft (15)
Bookings: Duah (38), Bowdery (62)
Red card: Bowdery (90+4)
HT: 1-1
FT: 1-1
Venue: Avant Training Centre
Referee: Aji Ajibola