It was another dramatic night in the EFL Cup as penalties stole the show, and some major upsets emerged. Everton’s struggles this season deepened, as Southampton dumped them out of the competition in a penalty shoot-out.
Abdoulaye Doucoure had given Everton the lead, but Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis brought them level, forcing the third-round tie to be decided from the spot.
In a tense moment, Southampton held their nerve to win 6-5, with Alex McCarthy saving Ashley Young’s final effort.
Meanwhile, Preston North End made history with a stunning 16-15 victory over Fulham in one of the longest shoot-outs in the EFL Cup.
The night was packed with excitement, and if you’re looking to bet on thrilling Carabao Cup matches, Jambobet is the best betting site for Carabao Cup action.
Everton’s miserable start to the season continued in the EFL Cup as Southampton inflicted more disappointment on Sean Dyche’s side. Despite Doucoure’s opener, Everton failed to hold onto their lead, with Southampton’s Harwood-Bellis delivering the equalizer.
This forced the game into a penalty shoot-out, where Southampton redeemed themselves after their recent penalty woes against Manchester United.
The Toffees’ recent struggles in the Premier League carried over into the cup, and the defeat will raise further concerns for Dyche as his team has been unable to maintain their advantage in games.
They’ve thrown away leads in their last two league games, and this cup exit adds to their mounting problems.
Ashley Young’s penalty miss proved costly for Everton, as Alex McCarthy saved the final spot-kick, sealing a memorable victory for Southampton.
The Saints, who are also enduring a tough start to the season, can take some comfort in their EFL Cup progression as they look to turn their form around.
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While Everton was licking their wounds, Preston North End and Fulham delivered one of the most extraordinary penalty shoot-outs in recent memory.
After the game ended 1-1, the teams went to penalties, and it seemed like the shoot-out would never end. Both sides remained perfect from the spot until Timothy Castagne missed the crucial 17th penalty, sending Preston through with a 16-15 victory.
This marathon shoot-out will go down in EFL Cup history as one of the longest and most nerve-wracking contests.
Preston’s resilience was rewarded as they advanced to the next round, showing that even against higher-tier opponents, they are a team to be reckoned with.
Stoke City also had their fair share of drama in the third round, as they too had to rely on penalties to overcome Fleetwood Town. After a 1-1 draw, Stoke kept their composure to win the shoot-out and progress to the next stage of the competition.
Stoke’s victory on penalties added another layer of excitement to an already unpredictable night of cup action, showing once again that anything can happen in the EFL Cup.
Crystal Palace and Brentford Progress
In other third-round matches, Crystal Palace earned a 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers, with Eberechi Eze scoring against his former club. Eddie Nketiah also found the net for the Eagles, who moved on to the next round.
Brentford had to come from behind to defeat Leyton Orient 3-1. Despite going down early, Brentford’s superior quality shone through as they rallied to secure their place in the next round.
Meanwhile, Sheffield United secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Blackpool. This win was a special one for Sheffield, as they managed to overcome their former manager, Steve Bruce, who now leads Blackpool. It was a night of narrow margins and high tension across the board in the EFL Cup.
