The Leicester City vs Walsall Carabao Cup third-round tie almost saw an upset as Leicester narrowly escaped an early exit. The match, played at the Bescott Stadium, ended 0-0 after 90 minutes, forcing a penalty shootout. Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward became the hero by saving three consecutive penalties, securing the Foxes’ place in the fourth round.
Leicester City vs Walsall could have ended in disaster for the Premier League side. Danny Ward stepped up when it mattered, denying Walsall’s hopes of a giant-killing. Walsall, a League Two side, put up a strong fight on their home ground, holding Leicester scoreless in regular time.
Leicester manager Steve Cooper rotated his squad for the Leicester City vs Walsall match. He brought in players like Ricardo Pereira, Luke Thomas, and Boubakary Soumare. However, the fresh legs struggled to handle a determined Walsall side that created several good chances throughout the match.
Walsall came close with efforts from Charlie Lakin and Albert Adomah, aiming to reach the Carabao Cup fourth round for the first time since the 1997/98 season. However, their momentum wasn’t enough, and Leicester had chances to win the game in normal time through Facundo Buonanotte and Thomas.
The penalty shootout was where the Leicester City vs Walsall clash truly came to life. Walsall missed all three of their penalties, with Ward saving efforts from Taylor Allen, David Okagbue, and Liam Gordon. Leicester, in contrast, were flawless, with Ricardo Pereira, Conor Coady, and Oliver Skipp converting their penalties to secure a 3-0 shootout victory.
Aston Villa Survive Wycombe Challenge
In another Carabao Cup thriller, Aston Villa narrowly avoided an upset against League One side Wycombe Wanderers. Unai Emery made significant changes to his lineup, including rare starts for Emiliano Buendia, Ian Maatsen, and Ross Barkley. Australian goalkeeper Joe Gauci also made his debut.
Villa found it tough against Wycombe, who created several chances. However, Buendia broke the deadlock in the second half with a well-placed header. Jhon Durán doubled Villa’s lead with a late strike, but Wycombe’s Richard Kone scored in injury time, making it a nervous finish for the visitors. Still, Villa held on for a 2-1 victory.
Elsewhere in the Carabao Cup
Chelsea cruised through to the fourth round with a 5-0 thrashing of Barrow, thanks to a hat-trick from Christopher Nkunku. Manchester City also advanced with a 2-1 win over Watford, though a late goal from Thomas Ince made it a tighter affair than expected.
The Leicester City vs Walsall tie and the other matches highlight the unpredictability of the Carabao Cup, with teams often facing stiff competition from lower-league opponents. Fans can look forward to more exciting clashes in the next round.
