Alex Iwobi came on as a substitute for Fulham in their dramatic Carabao Cup third round match against Preston North End, which ended 1-1 after 90 minutes. Preston emerged victorious after an extraordinary 16-15 penalty shootout. Iwobi converted his penalty, but teammates Jorge Cuenca and Timothy Castagne missed their spot kicks. Meanwhile, Calvin Bassey remained on the bench throughout the match.
Preston took the lead in the 35th minute through Ryan Ledson, but Fulham equalized in the 61st minute with a goal from Reiss Nelson. Despite Fulham’s efforts, Preston held their nerve in the shootout to secure a place in the next round.
Elsewhere, Joe Aribo featured for Southampton, who also required penalties to overcome Everton, winning 6-5 after a 1-1 draw. Manchester United dominated Barnsley with a 7-0 victory, highlighted by two goals each from Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Christian Eriksen.
Editorial
The Carabao Cup often provides surprising moments, and Fulham’s heartbreaking exit at the hands of lower division Preston North End is one of those upsets that define the competition. Alex Iwobi, brought on in the later stages, played his part by successfully converting his penalty, though Fulham’s fate was sealed by missed kicks from two of his teammates.
Fulham’s defeat also underlines the unpredictability of cup football, where even Premier League clubs like Fulham are not immune to being toppled by determined lower league opposition. The penalty shootout, which ended 16-15, is a testament to the high pressure and drama these games can produce.
For Fulham, the loss will be a bitter pill to swallow, but they will need to quickly refocus on their league campaign. Meanwhile, Iwobi’s recent move to Fulham means he’ll have plenty of opportunities to make a strong impact for his new club in future fixtures.
Did You Know?
- The 16-15 penalty shootout between Fulham and Preston North End is one of the longest in recent Carabao Cup history.
- Alex Iwobi joined Fulham from Everton in the 2023 transfer window.
- Calvin Bassey, another Nigerian international, joined Fulham from Ajax in 2023 but didn’t feature in this match.
- The Carabao Cup, previously known as the League Cup, often provides opportunities for lower league clubs to challenge Premier League sides.
- Preston North End is one of the founding members of the Football League, established in 1888.
