Mansfield Town Drawn Up Against Peterborough United In The Third Round Of The Carabao Cup
Following a tremendous penalty shootout victory over Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in the previous round, Mansfield Town take on League One Peterborough United for a chance to reach the Fourth Round.
Mansfield Town went into their second-round tie at Hillsborough as the underdogs against Sheffield Wednesday, but with underlying confidence following their unbeaten start to the current campaign.
The Stags were penned into their own half for the majority of the first-half and saw Sheffield Wednesday take the lead after 28 minutes through winger Anthony Musaba. The 22-year-old forward pounced on a free header inside the box following Callum Paterson’s headed pull-back.
Xisco Munoz’s men were the stronger side throughout the first 45 minutes and could have doubled their lead as Josh Windass’ effort rebounded off the crossbar in added time.
The Owls started the second-half the brighter of the two, as a shot from Windass tested Mansfield goalkeeper Christy Pym, but the Stags shot-stopper came out on top as he kept the his side in the contest.
However, the amber and blues turned the screw and grew into the game as the half went on.
Mansfield Town drew level five minutes from the end following a 32-pass team move, which saw Rhys Oates curl an effort into the bottom corner of Cameron Dawson’s net.
The Stags’ number 18 used his quick feet and pace to get past the Wednesday defence and draw the game level at 1-1.
The game then went to a penalty shootout following the full-time whistle as both teams looked eager to make it through to the Third Round, following a tightly contested battle.
Both sides scored their first three penalties as Jordan Bowery, George Maris and Davis Keillor-Dunn converted for the Stags; and Michael Smith, Windass and Barry Bannan scored for the Owls.
In the fourth round of spot kicks, Will Swan had his effort saved by Dawson, but Will Vaulks penalty was also saved by Pym as the shootout stayed deadlocked at 3-3.
Oates and Lee Gregory fired their penalties in, as did ex-Owls player Aden Flint as the defender put the away side 4-3 in front. Up stepped Liam Palmer for the next Wednesday penalty, but he had his effort saved by Pym as Mansfield made it through to the Third Round for the first time since 1979/80.
The Stags will look to make it further in the Carabao Cup and reach the Fourth Round as they face Peterborough United in the next round of the competition.
Following their strong performance against Championship opposition, Mansfield Town will hope to once again eliminate a team from a league above them to continue their good start to the season.
The Third Round ties will be played the week commencing September 25th as the sides remaining look to make it to the Round of 16 of this season’s Carabao Cup.
