Roundup of the second round of 2025-26 Carabao Cup which featured plenty of surprise results.
This round saw the 11 Premier League clubs not in European action enter at this stage, including Manchester United but several surprises lied ahead throughout the stage.
Northern Section
Bryan Mbeumo’s miss saw Grimsby claim a giant killing against Man Utd 12-11 on penalties after their clash at Blundell Park finished 2-2, with Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren having put the hosts in front before Mbeumo and Harry Maguire equalised for United.
First-half goals from Will Swan and Bradley Halliday plus a 62nd-minute goal from George Lapslie saw Bradford stun Stoke in a 3-0 away win over the Championship leaders.
Huddersfield eliminated Premier League’s Sunderland 6-5 on penalties after Leo Castledine’s ninth-minute volley was cancelled out by Marc Guiu’s equaliser.
Sheffield Wednesday dispatched Yorkshire rivals, Leeds 3-0 on penalties at Hillsborough after the Owls took the lead through Karl Darlow’s own-goal, only for Jayden Bogle to salvage a draw with his 81st-minute equaliser.
Oliver Sonne’s 91st-minute strike saw Burnley snatch a 2-1 victory at home to Derby, having seen Aaron Ramsey’s fourth-minute opener cancelled out by Bobby Clark.
Second-half goals from Carlos Alcaraz and Beto saw Everton cruise past Mansfield in the first Carabao Cup match played at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Kieffer Moore netted a 92nd-minute winner as Wrexham won 3-2 at Preston after goals from Ryan Hardie and Harry Ashfield twice pulled them level, having seen the Lilywhites twice lead through goals from Lewis Dobbin and Liam Lindsay.
Jaheim Headley nodded in a 45th-minute winner to put Port Vale through in a cupset at Birmingham City.
Second-half goals from Jonathan Russell and Adam Phillips saw Barnsley complete a 2-1 comeback win over Rotherham at Oakwell, after Ar’jany Martha put the Millers into a half-time lead.
Owen Bailey netted a 75th-minute opener then set up Ben Close’s effort as Doncaster won 2-0 at ten-men Accrington Stanley, after Josh Woods had been red carded for the hosts following a second bookable offence.
Ben House curled in a 89th-minute winner to fire Lincoln City past Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium.
Fraser Murray nodded in a 84th-minute winner as Wigan scraped past Stockport in an all-League One clash.
Southern Section
Stefanos Tzimas’ debut brace helped Brighton cruise to a dominant 6-0 victory at Oxford United, as Olivier Boscagli opened the scoring on his first appearance before Brajan Gruda and Diego Gomez extended their lead whilst Tom Watson wrapped up the victory with his debut goal.
George Tanner’s own-goal and Raul Jimenez’s strike saw Fulham cruise past Bristol City at Craven Cottage.
Jorgen Strand Larsen’s late quick-fire brace saw Wolves complete a 3-2 comeback at home to West Ham, having initially led through Rodrigo Gomes’ rebound strike before Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta put the Hammers ahead from behind.
Fabio Carvalho and Igor Thiago fired Brentford past Bournemouth in an all Premier League tie at the Vitality Stadium.
Zak Bradshaw’s 55th-minute winner saw Cambridge United upset Charlton in a 3-1 home win after James Brophy and Kylian Kouassi fired the Us in front, only for Ibrahim Fullah to give the visiting Addicks hope at half-time.
Isaak Davies, Calum Chambers and Joel Colwill found the net as Cardiff cruised past Cheltenham.
Kamarl Grant netted his first Millwall goal with a 76th-minute header to beat Coventry 2-1 at The Den, after Massimo Luongo had opened the scoring for the Lions whilst Haji Wright’s 89th-minute penalty proved consolatory for Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues.
Cameron Archer, Ryan Fraser and Kuryu Matsuki netted for Southampton in a 3-0 victory at Norwich.
Swansea cruised past Plymouth 5-3 on penalties after Zan Vipotnik’s 25-yard opener was cancelled out by Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu’s header.
Mamadi Camara’s 70th-minute winner saw Reading beat AFC Wimbledon 2-1 after Liam Fraser’s opener was cancelled out by Omar Bugiel.
Misses from Jude Arthurs, Byron Webster and Will Hondermarck saw Bromley’s historic Carabao Cup run ended 5-4 on penalties at home to Wycombe, after Arthurs’ classy volley cancelled out Magnus Westergaard’s early header.
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