🏆 EFL Cup: Southampton bow out; Sunderland lose on pens; Wrexham through | OneFootball

The EFL Cup kicked off on Tuesday with teams across the English pyramid facing off.

Here’s how it all went down.

Swansea cruise past Northampton

Scorers: Piroe 10′, 54′, Ginnelly 90+4′

Swansea comfortably saw off Northampton Town to book their place in the EFL Cup’s second round.

Joël Piroe put the South Wales club in the lead after just 10 minutes with a clinical finish from close range.

He would prove integral again as Michael Duff’s side went further ahead in the second half from Liam Cullen’s cross.

The Swans’ comprehensive victory was capped off by debutant Josh Ginnelly drilling a powerful effort in stoppage time.

Middlesbrough survive early Huddersfield scare

Scorers: Harratt 4′, Hudlin 90+4′; Silvera 20′, Jones 63′, McGree 82′

Middlesbrough had to survive an early scare to edge past Huddersfield Town.

The 2004 winners fell behind in the fourth minute when Kian Harratt drilled home from Josh Austerfield’s through ball.

But their fortunes began to turn soon after their hosts saw Jaheim Headley shown a straight red card for his foul on Isiah Jones.

They were soon level through Samuel Silvera converting after being teed up by Daniel Barlaser in the 20th minute.

Michael Carrick’s side seized the upper hand after the interval when Barlaser teed up Isiah Jones  for the visitors’ lead.

A third followed for Boro in the closing stages courtesy of Riley McGree before Kyle Hudlin notched a stoppage-time consolation for the Terriers.

Southampton humiliated by Gillingham in early exit

Scorers: Nadesan 12′, McKenzie 51′, 67′; Alcaraz 89′

Southampton meekly bowed out in an underwhelming 3-1 reversal to League Two outfit Gillingham.

Russell Martin’s side conceded late in the first half from James Bree losing possession as Ashley Nadeson scored from the ensuing counterattack.

Their deficit increased after the interval when Robbie McKenzie doubled the Gills’ lead with a right-footed shot from Max Ehmer’s deep delivery.

McKenzie doubled his tally with a third little over a quarter of an hour later when another set piece saw him rifle the ball home from 20 yards.

The Saints mustered a late consolation through Carlos Alcaraz, who rolled a low effort to salvage a crumb of respectability for the Championship side.

Sunderland bow out on penalties to Crewe

Scorers: Rigg 64′; Offord 45+1′

Sunderland exited the EFL Cup after a penalty shootout against Crewe Alexandra.

The visitors broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time as Luke Offord met Joel Tabiner’s cross with a far-post header.

Chris Rigg drew Tony Mowbray’s side level midway through the second half with a close-range attempt from a loose ball.

But the Black Cats’ luck ran out on penalties as Pierre Ekwah missed the vital spot kick to send them out on a 5-3 reversal.

Wrexham progress past Wigan in shootout

Wrexham’s hopes of a fairy tale season took another twist as they overcame Wigan Athletic on penalties.

Fresh from a defeat on their League Two return, Phil Parkinson’s side held firm against their high-ranking opponents.

But with little separating the sides after 90 minutes, the Racecourse Ground was treated to a dramatic shootout.

Charlie Hughes and Thelo Aasgard’s misses from the spot proved costly for the Latics as their Hollywood-owned hosts progressed.

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