Round Two of the Leasing.com Trophy had its fair share of thrills, spills and comebacks, and we have narrowed it down to five things you may have missed!
1. Current holders come from behind to progress
Kenny Jackett’s Portsmouth’s had to come from a goal down against Northampton Town to ensure that they progressed to Round Three of the competition. Pompey had won five games on the spin before heading into the game against the Cobblers and showed why they are one of the teams to beat in the competition.
Keith Curle’s side initially took the lead through Michael Harriman in the 12th minute of the game, before Leon Maloney hit back just before the break at Fratton Park.
Just past the hour mark, Marcus Harness popped up with a stunning volley which ended up in the top-left corner of Steve Arnold’s net, giving the 30-year-old no chance in the Northampton goal.
The holders travel to Walsall in Round Three.
2. Saddlers stun Chelsea U21s in sensational comeback
Being 2-0 down in 10 minutes is never something you want to see as a manager, but that soon became a reality for Darrell Clarke as Chelsea U21s took the initiative at the Banks’s Stadium and blew the Saddlers away in the opening stages.
Nineteen-year-old Tariq Lamptey caught the Walsall defence napping on two occasions in the first period, before a managerial masterclass by Clarke saw his team produce a second-half performance worthy of progression in the competition.
Goals from Caolan Lavery, Wes McDonald and Dan Scarr saw them overturn a 2-0 deficit to see off Chelsea U21 by three-goals-to-two with a 90th-minute winner!
3. Two highest-ranked sides lock horns at the ABAX Stadium
Peterborough United and Ipswich Town have been matching each other stride for stride in Sky Bet League One this season, and met in Round Two of the Leasing.com Trophy in a winner-takes-all game at the ABAX Stadium.
Paul Lambert’s Tractor Boys took the lead through Idris El Mizouni before the Posh hit back through Ricky Jade-Jones less than 10 minutes later. That would be the end of the goals on the night and the teams had to settle the affair from the penalty spot.
The visitors managed to progress to Round Three of the competition with a 6-5 penalty shootout victory, with Ipswich goalkeeper Adam Przybek making the decisive save from Siriki Dembele’s effort.
4.Tranmere Rovers knock out Red Devils’ rising stars
Manchester United U21s side were one of the few teams that boasted a 100 per cent record in the competition after seeing off Rotherham United, Lincoln City and Doncaster Rovers respectively in the group stages.
Round Two would be as far as the youngsters would go, though, as Micky Mellon’s Tranmere Rovers showed their experience and saw off the Red Devils by three-goals-to-two.
Rushain Hepburn-Murphy, Connor Jennings and Corey Taylor netted the goals for the Super White Army, with highly-rated Tahith Chong scoring twice for the visitors. Tranmere face another U21s side in Leicester City in Round Three.
5. Leicester City U21s outfox Doncaster Rovers
There are only two U21 sides left in the Leasing.com Trophy this season - Manchester City U21s and Leicester City U21s. The Citizens produced a penalty shootout win against Shrewsbury Town and Leicester City saw off Doncaster Rovers by a 3-0 scoreline at the Keepmoat Stadium respectively.
Steve Beaglehole, who is a former Rovers player, took his team to South Yorkshire hoping to follow up on their first-placed finish in the group stages with progression to Round Three of the competition.
That’s exactly what happened, a comprehensive 3-0 win, as a brace from Admiral Muskwe and one from George Hirst secured passage into the next round where they will travel to Prenton Park to take on Sky Bet League One outfit Tranmere Rovers.