Reading keeper Adam Federici was the unlikely hero as he scored five minutes into injury time to deny Cardiff victory at the Madejski Stadium.
The Bluebirds looked to have secured all three points when Michael Chopra found the net in the 89th minute.
But just as Cardiff were getting ready to celebrate their fourth away win of the season Reading hit back.
In an act of desperation Federici left his goal to go up for an injury-time corner and shot home.
Reading manager Steve Coppell:
"I've seen him (Adam Federici) score for us before in a pre-season game two seasons ago at Bromley. We got an injury so he played outfield.
"He does that regularly in training. All goalkeepers are frustrated centre forwards but he is a good player and a natural athlete.
"If you look at the goal, as the ball is delivered and Michael Duberry has a great header which a defender saves on the line with his chest, during that header Federici is on the floor and the next minute he is up on his feet to finish it.
"It was like goalkeeping practice where they make one save and have to get up to make a second. I'm sure that helped him."
Cardiff City manager Dave Jones:
"I just think he (the referee) has not had the best of games. They (referees) are a law unto themselves sometimes.
"It was a feisty game. Two teams who are in form. Two teams who are trying to get out of this division. It's not going to be lovey-dovey.
"They (referees) get carried away with themselves and they lose the plot. He's lost the plot a little bit today on some of the decisions he's made."
Reading: Federici, Rosenior, Ingimarsson, Duberry, Armstrong, Henry (Kebe 61), Harper, Cisse, Stephen Hunt, Noel Hunt (Long 62), Doyle.
Subs Not Used: Andersen, Gunnarsson, Matejovsky.
Booked: Noel Hunt, Armstrong.
Goals: Federici 90.
Cardiff: Enckelman, McNaughton, Roger Johnson, Gyepes, Kennedy,Routledge, Rae, Ledley, Parry (Whittingham 86), Bothroyd, Chopra.
Subs Not Used: Heaton, Eddie Johnson, McPhail, Comminges.
Booked: Chopra, Roger Johnson.
Goals: Chopra 89.
Att: 22,770
Referee: Andy Hall (W Midlands).
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