Bromley pulled off a major EFL Cup shock, defeating Ipswich on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Wrexham also advanced after a late comeback and penalty shootout win against Hull City. Other notable results saw League One teams Doncaster and Bradford defeat Championship opponents.
The EFL Cup witnessed its fair share of drama as League Two's Bromley orchestrated a stunning upset against Ipswich, triumphing in a penalty shootout. Meanwhile, Wrexham showcased their resilience with a late comeback against Hull City, further adding to the night's excitement.
At Hayes Lane, Bromley and Ipswich locked horns in a captivating first-round encounter. After a tense 90 minutes that concluded with a 1-1 scoreline, the match went to penalties. Marcus Ifill emerged as the hero for Bromley, calmly slotting home the decisive spot-kick to secure a memorable 5-4 victory. Deji Elerewe had initially put the hosts ahead just before halftime, skillfully converting Omar Sowunmi's pass past Christian Walton. However, Ipswich responded swiftly in the second half, with substitute Ben Johnson leveling the score just eight minutes after the restart.
Despite Ipswich's second-half dominance, where Johnson and Sam Szmodics came close to finding a winner, Bromley's goalkeeper, Sam Long, proved impenetrable. Long's heroics extended into the penalty shootout, where he denied George Hirst's opening attempt. Although Michael Cheek converted Bromley's first penalty, Walton responded by saving Ashley Charles' effort. With both sides converting their subsequent three penalties, the tension reached fever pitch. Long then produced another crucial save, diving low to his left to thwart Ali Al Hamadi's weak attempt. With the stage set, Ifill stepped up and confidently dispatched his penalty past Walton, sparking jubilant scenes among the Bromley faithful.
In another thrilling encounter, Wrexham staged a remarkable comeback against Hull City, eventually securing victory in a penalty shootout. A late brace from Ollie Palmer, scoring in the 91st and 92nd minutes, salvaged a 3-3 draw for Wrexham, setting the stage for a dramatic finale. Wrexham initially took the lead through Elliot Lee, but Hull's summer signing, Oliver McBurnie, equalized before halftime. Joel Ndala then put the visitors ahead, and Matt Crooks doubled their advantage in the 81st minute, seemingly sealing the victory for Hull. However, Palmer's late heroics turned the game on its head, sending the match to penalties.
In the shootout, Wrexham maintained their composure, with James McClean, Lee, Josh Windass, Palmer, and Jack Marriott all converting their penalties. A missed penalty by Ndala proved costly for Hull, as Wrexham secured a 5-3 victory.
Elsewhere in the EFL Cup, League One sides Doncaster Rovers and Bradford City also caused upsets, defeating Championship teams Middlesbrough and Blackburn, respectively. Derby County also emerged victorious after a dramatic penalty shootout against West Brom, following a 96th-minute equalizer.