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Dan Burke·21 September 2021
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Dan Burke·21 September 2021
The third round of the EFL Cup got under way on Tuesday and it was time for some of the big boys to join the party.
Scorers: De Bruyne 29′, Mahrez 43′, 83′ Foden 45+1′, Torres 71′, Palmer 88′; Hanlan 22′
Manchester City are comfortably through to the fourth round, but it wasn’t all plain sailing for the holders at the Etihad.
After an even opening period, League One Wycombe took a shock lead when Brandon Hanlan tapped in from close range after some sloppy defending in the inexperienced City backline.
But the hosts equalised a few minutes later, when Kevin De Bruyne side-footed past the goalkeeper after nice play from Phil Foden.
And moments after rattling the post, Riyad Mahrez put City 2-1 up when he finished after Josh Wilson-Esbrand’s good work down the left channel.
City then went 3-1 up in first half stoppage time, when Foden’s strike was too hot too handle for Wycombe goalkeeper David Stockdale.
Jordan Obita missed a big chance to pull one back for the Chairboys in the second half and a few minutes later he was punished, as Ferran Torres got on the end of Foden’s low cross to make it 4-1.
Raheem Sterling then set up Mahrez to score his second of the night, before substitute Cole Palmer added to the route with a lovely individual effort for his first senior goal.
Scorers: Austin 18′, 34′; Digne 30′, Townsend 47′
The first shock of the round belonged to QPR, who knocked Everton out on penalties after a great game at Loftus Road.
The Championship hosts took the lead midway through the first half courtesy of a headed goal from Charlie Austin.
The Toffees then equalised bang on half an hour, with Lucas Digne’s effort creeping in at the near post after he’d been tee’d up by Andros Townsend.
However the hosts then went back in front and Austin was again the scorer with his head, only for Townsend to draw Everton level again early in the second half.
Neither side was able to find a winner, and the tie went to a penalty shoot-out, with QPR winning 8-7 after goalkeeper Timothy Dieng saved to deny Tom Davies.
Scorers: Minamino 4′, 80′, Origi 50′
Liverpool cruised through at Carrow Road but the hosts spurned the chance to equalise from the penalty spot in the first half.
It took the visitors no time at all to open the scoring, with Takumi Minamino netting his first goal of the season.
Norwich had the chance to equalise just before half-time when Dimitris Giannoulis was brought down in the box by Liverpool youngster Conor Bradley, but goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher saved to deny Christoph Tzolis from the spot.
The Canaries were made to rue that miss when Divock Origi then doubled Liverpool’s lead five minutes after the restart.
And Minamino then bagged his second of the game to put the result beyond doubt 10 minutes from time.
Leeds were made to work extremely hard to book their spot in the fourth round by Championship high-flyers Fulham.
Both sides had numerous chances in an entertaining first half at Craven Cottage, but the score remained goalless at the interval.
And despite the second half also being action-packed, neither side could make the breakthrough and the match went to penalties.
Leeds ultimately won 6-5, with Illan Meslier saving the decisive spot-kick to deny Rodrigo Muniz.
Click on the match for more information
Join us again on Wednesday for more EFL Cup action.