The Carabao Cup Round Three was one to remember for a multitude of reasons.
Following the completion of the Round Four draw at Potton Bowls Club in Sandy, Bedfordshire, we digest how it all went down in Round Three, which also saw some unique narratives emerge from the competition…
The miracle of birth and the magic of the Cup
It was a busy afternoon for Leeds United’s Dan James, who went from witnessing the birth of his first child, to slotting away his spot-kick for the Whites in a penalty shoot-out against Fulham in the Carabao Cup, all in a day’s work!
The winger was able to see his son born in Manchester, before boarding a helicopter to arrive in London just in time for kick-off at Craven Cottage. He managed the full 90 minutes, despite his hectic journey, and the two teams headed for penalties after the tie remained goalless by the final whistle.
And the new father coolly despatched from 12 yards after Josh Onomah spurned his spot-kick for Fulham, with the West Yorkshire side progressing to Round Four, 6-5 on penalties.
Phil Foden’s canine conundrum
Three years on from scoring his first professional goal in the competition, Manchester City starlet Phil Foden continues to produce the goods in the Carabao Cup.
The England international found the back of the net in added time of the first-half to put City 3-1 up, after Brandon Hanlan opened the scoring for his side’s Round Three opponents, Wycombe Wanderers.
Not to mention that it was also revealed, in the wake of City’s Round Three triumph, that the four-time Carabao Cup winner named his French bulldog ‘Carabao’ after beating Aston Villa in the 2020 Final!
The fantastic four
Premier League duo Burnley and Brentford sailed through to Round Four, but they couldn’t have done it without the assistance of forwards Jay Rodriguez and Marcus Forss in their respective teams.
Rodriguez scored all four goals for the Clarets, as they came from behind to book their place in the next round against Rochdale. After falling behind after the re-start, within just half-an-hour, the 32-year-old had Burnley 4-1 up and on course to reach Round Four.
Similarly, Finnish forward Forss took home the match ball as Brentford despatched Oldham Athletic 7-0 in Round Three. The striker opened the scoring inside three minutes from the penalty spot and had a hat-trick by the half-time whistle, adding his fourth and the Bees’ seventh on the hour mark.
It is, therefore, no surprise to see these two lead the line in the Team of the Round for Round Three!
The Reds kids are alright
Norwich City were among six Premier League casualties – including the surprise exit of last year’s Semi-Finalists Manchester United – in Round Three of the 2021/22 Carabao Cup, crashing out of the competition at the hands of Liverpool.
Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino were on target for the Reds in the resounding 3-0 victory over the Canaries, but the youngsters largely ran the show and, most notably, 16-year-old Kaide Gordon.
The midfielder became the fifth-youngest player ever to pull on a Liverpool shirt as he made his bow at Carrow Road, handed a place in the starting line-up by manager Jurgen Klopp – whom he thanked after the game - and going on to complete the full 90 minutes. It’s fair to say we can expect more to come from the Reds starlet in the competition.
