Crystal Palace edged Millwall on penalties in a tense EFL Cup clash, while Grimsby Town’s impressive run continued with a win over Sheffield Wednesday. Aston Villa were knocked out by Brentford. Palace are unbeaten in seven games against Millwall, and Grimsby eliminated two higher-division teams for the first time since 2006.
Crystal Palace survived a tense EFL Cup third-round clash against fierce rivals Millwall, requiring a penalty shootout to secure their progression. Meanwhile, Grimsby Town continued their remarkable cup run with another giant-killing performance.
The match at Selhurst Park saw Crystal Palace take the lead through Chris Richards, but Ryan Leonard's late equaliser in the 91st minute forced the game into a penalty shootout. New signing Walter Benitez, making his debut after joining from PSV, proved to be the hero for Palace, saving penalties from Aidomo Emakhu and Tristan Crama to seal a nervy victory over their London rivals.
Oliver Glasner praised Benitez's composure under pressure. "Walter showed great character to step up in that situation. It's never easy coming into a new team and immediately having to perform in a penalty shootout, but he handled it brilliantly," he said. Glasner also acknowledged Millwall's strong performance, admitting that his side had been pushed all the way.
Grimsby Town, currently playing in League Two, followed up their stunning victory over Manchester United with another impressive result, securing a 1-0 away win against Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. Jaze Kabia's 49th-minute header proved to be the difference between the two sides, sending Grimsby into the fourth round of the competition for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
Sheffield Wednesday, grappling with off-field issues that prompted a supporter boycott, fielded a weakened team, with Ethan Horvath and Jamal Lowe the only senior starters. Despite the circumstances, manager Xisco Munoz refused to use the off-field situation as an excuse. "We prepared for the game like any other, and we knew Grimsby would be a tough opponent. We didn't take our chances, and they did," he stated.
Kabia reflected on his match-winning goal, expressing his delight at helping his team progress. "It's a dream come true to score the winner in a cup game like this. The boys battled hard, and we deserved the win," he said.
The floor is yours, @Jazekabia123! #GTFC pic.twitter.com/fwaYE9DsdH
— Grimsby Town F.C. (@officialgtfc) September 16, 2025
Aston Villa's difficult start to the season continued as they were knocked out by Brentford on penalties after a 1-1 draw in their all-Premier League encounter at the Gtech Community Stadium. Harvey Elliot, on loan from Liverpool, opened the scoring for Villa, ending their four-game goal drought. However, Aaron Hickey equalized for Brentford, who eventually won the shootout 4-2 after Hakon Valdimarsson saved John McGinn's penalty and Matty Cash missed his spot-kick.
Unai Emery expressed his disappointment after the game, stating that his team needed to improve their consistency. "We had chances to win the game, but we didn't take them. Penalties are always a lottery, but we need to be more clinical in open play," he said.
Thomas Frank, the Brentford manager, praised his team's resilience. "We showed great character to come back after going behind. I'm delighted for the players and the fans," he said.
Data Debrief: Palace Secure Local Bragging Rights, Grimsby Continue Their Run
Crystal Palace are now unbeaten in their last seven matches against Millwall, equalling their longest unbeaten run against their rivals (also October 1986 to September 1993). Their penalty shootout victory was perhaps predictable, given their impressive record in cup competitions against lower-league opposition. Palace have now progressed from each of their last 11 FA Cup/EFL Cup ties against lower-league teams.
Grimsby Town, meanwhile, have eliminated two teams from a higher division in a single EFL Cup campaign for the first time since 2005-06, when they defeated Derby County and Tottenham Hotspur.
The EFL Cup continues to deliver shocks and surprises, with Grimsby Town's fairytale run capturing the imagination of fans across the country. The fourth round promises to be just as exciting, with several lower-league teams still in the mix.