Federici kept a clean sheet as the Royals stunned the Bluebirds with Shane Long netting a first-half double, before Jobi McAnuff rounded out the victory on 84 minutes.

The first leg at Reading's Madejski Stadium had ended goalless, meaning the Royals progress 3-0 on aggregate.

Reading will now face Swansea City in the final at Wembley Stadium on Monday May 30.

Federici was kept busy early at Cardiff City Stadium, with Peter Whittingham's 25-yard effort drawing a save from the Australian.

The Socceroo was forced into action again when he denied Dekel Keinan who rose well from a corner on 23 minutes.

And Reading then took the lead on 28 minutes against the run of play, when calamitous Bluebirds defending allowed Long to lob the ball into an empty net from 20 yards.

Cardiff tried to hit back, as efforts from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Jay Bothroyd were saved by Federici.

The Royals almost gifted the Bluebirds a leveller when Mikele Leigertwood under-hit a backpass to Federici which invited Bothroyd in, but the Socceroo raced off the line and cleared the danger.

Moments later Reading doubled their advantage when they won a penalty which Long coolly converted on the stroke of half-time.

The Bluebirds tried to get back into the game in the second half, but the Royals and Federici held firm.

There was one moment of contention for the Australian goalkeeper when he appeared to handle the ball outside the box, but referee Howard Webb was unmoved.

And on 84 minutes ex-Cardiff City man McAnuff sealed the result with a nice run and strike.

Elsewhere, Ante Covic was beaten three times as IF Elfsborg lost 3-0 at Trelleborg in Sweden's Allsvenskan on Monday.