AFCON 2025
It was a night of late drama and underdog triumphs in the EFL Cup, with Chelsea and Liverpool scraping through tricky ties, while lower-league sides Cardiff City and Wycombe Wanderers stunned Premier League and Championship opponents to book their spots in the next round.
Chelsea were pushed to the limit by spirited League One side Lincoln City but advanced with a 2-1 comeback win at Sincil Bank. Rob Street’s first-half strike had the home crowd dreaming of a famous upset, only for Tyrique George to level after the break.
Substitute Facundo Buonanotte then sealed the turnaround, his late finish sparing Enzo Maresca’s side from embarrassment.
Liverpool also endured a tense evening, edging Southampton 2-1 at Anfield. Alexander Isak broke his duck for the club with a cool finish just before halftime, but Shea Charles struck midway through the second half to level.
Hugo Ekitike came off the bench to score the decisive goal on 86 minutes, only to be sent off moments later for removing his shirt in celebration.
Elsewhere, Brighton produced the standout scoreline of the night, demolishing Barnsley 6-0. Paraguayan forward Diego Gomez stole the show with four goals, including a rapid first-half hat-trick.
Cardiff City delivered a shock at Turf Moor, knocking out Premier League Burnley with a 2-1 win. The Championship side showed resilience and punished defensive lapses to book their spot in the next round.
At Molineux, Wolves proved too strong for Everton in the evening’s only all-Premier League clash. A composed 2-0 victory reflected their defensive solidity and sharper edge in attack, while Everton once again lacked penetration in the final third.
Fulham progressed with a 1-0 home win over Cambridge United courtesy of Emile Smith Rowe in a cagey contest settled by a single moment of quality.
Wrexham’s fairytale continued as they overcame Reading 2-0 away from home. A controlled second-half performance ensured the Hollywood-backed club moved into the next round.
Wycombe Wanderers capped the night’s surprises with a 2-0 victory at Wigan.
After an early stoppage due to a linesman injury, Wycombe kept their composure and struck twice to secure a clean sheet and a deserved win.
