AFC Wimbledon stunned Premier League new boys Ipswich Town on penalties to reach round three of the Carabao Cup.

Conor Chaplin headed a late equaliser for Ipswich to force a penalty shootout, but the Dons clinched it 4-2 after Owen Goodman saved from Jack Taylor and Omari Hutchinson.

Ali Al-Hamadi gave Town a third-minute lead against his former side with a free header from Conor Townsend's corner before Omar Bugiel nodded in Jake Reeves' free-kick to equalise before the break.

Matty Stevens rose highest in a crowded goalmouth to head the Dons ahead before Chaplin headed in with just four minutes left.

After defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City in a daunting start to their Premier League return, Ipswich failed to lift their season as Isaac Ogundere struck the winning penalty to send the fourth-tier Dons into dreamland.

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna fielded six debutants amid 10 changes, including Chiedozie Ogbene, hours after his move from Luton, and Manchester City loanee Kalvin Phillips.

The sides had met in League One as recently as three seasons ago, but Ipswich had seemingly underlined the new gulf between them, dominating first-half possession and settling the nerves early through Al-Hamadi.

Yet the Tractor Boys struggled to fashion further chances before the break and the hosts could have led by half-time after Bugiel's crisp finish was wrongly chalked off for offside having been played on by debutant Dara O'Shea.

The Dons created little, but were clinical, as Ipswich's new-look defence was twice found wanting by Reeves' in-swinging set-pieces from the right.

Ipswich improved after falling behind, driven by another new signing, Jack Clarke, with Huseyin Biler's super challenge denying Al-Hamadi before substitute Massimo Luongo shaved the outside of the left-hand post.

The Ipswich boss brought on four of the side which started at the Etihad on Saturday and levelled when Chaplin bravely beat Dons keeper Goodman to a high ball, but the visitors ultimately failed to capitalise on the lifeline.


https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2024/august/28/report-dons-versus-ipswich/
https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2024/august/28/afc-wimbledon-2-town-2--4-2-on-pens-/

[ --- www.bbc.co.uk]