Cup Matches: Bromley Outwit Ipswich in Penalty Shootout, Wrexham Pull Off Dramatic Late Recovery
In an exciting EFL Cup first-round fixture on August 12, 2025, at Bromley’s home stadium, Hayes Lane, the lower-league team Bromley managed to eliminate higher-league Ipswich Town in a thrilling penalty shootout, securing a 5-4 victory.
The match began with an evenly contested first half, culminating in a 1-1 draw after regular time. Deji Elerewe scored the opening goal for Bromley in the 45th minute, assisted by Omar Sowunmi, before Ipswich Town’s Ben Johnson equalised eight minutes into the second half.
As the game progressed, Ipswich dominated the second half but were unable to score a winner, setting the stage for a tense penalty shootout. The shootout featured several dramatic moments, including saves by M. Pinnock and A. Al-Hamadi for Bromley, and G. Hirst for Ipswich.
Bromley took an early advantage in the shootout, with Michael Cheek scoring the first penalty. Sam Szmodics equalised for Ipswich, but Bromley responded with goals from A. Charles, Omar Sowunmi, and a decisive penalty from Marcus Ifill. Ipswich scored three more penalties, but Bromley held on to secure their place in the next round.
Elsewhere in the EFL Cup, Wrexham staged a comeback against Hull City, drawing 3-3 in extra time before winning on penalties. Wrexham’s shootout heroes included James McClean, Josh Windass, Palmer, Jack Marriott, and Elliot Lee.
In other notable results, League One sides Doncaster Rovers and Bradford City caused upsets by beating Championship teams Middlesbrough and Blackburn respectively. The match between Wrexham and Hull went to penalties, with Wrexham winning 5-3.
Interestingly, despite Bromley's victory, Ipswich had a higher expected goals (xG) than Bromley, with 1.52 compared to Bromley's 1.04, suggesting that Ipswich created more scoring opportunities throughout the match.
This exciting round of the EFL Cup serves as a testament to the unpredictable nature of football, with lower-league teams proving they can compete with their higher-league counterparts. The next round promises more thrilling encounters as teams continue their quest for EFL Cup glory.
In the thrilling context of the EFL Cup, Bromley's football team used penalty kicks to eliminate higher-league opponents Ipswich Town, setting a triumphant 5-4 victory. As the next round approaches, it's clear that the lower-league teams are capable of competing against their higher-league counterparts in sports, as demonstrated by Bromley's unexpected success.
