Substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen was the hero at Molineux on Tuesday night, scoring twice in two minutes to inspire Wolverhampton Wanderers to a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over West Ham United, sending Gary O’Neil’s side into the third round of the League Cup.
Wolves vs West Ham – Strand Larsen’s Late Show
In a battle between the Premier League’s bottom two sides, it was West Ham who struck first through Lucas Paquetá’s header in the 63rd minute, after earlier goals had left the tie finely balanced.
Wolves’ opener came two minutes before half-time courtesy of Rodrigo Gomes, who tucked home after Hwang Hee-chan’s penalty cannoned back off the post. But the hosts were pegged back when Tomáš Souček headed in shortly after the restart.
The stage was then set for Strand Larsen. Introduced in the 73rd minute, the Norwegian forward made an immediate impact, finding the net in the 82nd and 84th minutes to turn the tie on its head and secure Wolves’ first win of the season in any competition.
For West Ham boss Graham Potter, the pressure continues to mount. The Hammers have now conceded 10 goals in their last three matches following heavy league defeats to Chelsea (5-1) and Sunderland (3-0).
Leeds & Sunderland Suffer Cup Heartbreak
Elsewhere, Leeds United were dumped out on penalties by Sheffield Wednesday, losing 3-0 in the shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. The Elland Road side, promoted back to the Premier League this season, saw their exit compounded by a remarkable display from debutant goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, who made two crucial saves and kept a clean sheet in the shootout.
At the Stadium of Light, Sunderland also exited on spot-kicks, falling 6-5 to Huddersfield Town of League One after a 1-1 draw.
Other Results – Brentford, Burnley & Wrexham Advance
- Brentford earned a solid 2-0 win at Bournemouth, with goals from Fábio Carvalho and Igor Thiago either side of the interval. Record signing Dango Ouattara came on as a substitute against his former club.
- Burnley, heavily rotated from the weekend, edged Derby County 2-1 thanks to a stoppage-time strike from Oliver Sonne.
- Wrexham delivered more magic for their Hollywood owners, snatching a 3-2 win at Preston North End courtesy of a dramatic injury-time goal from Kieffer Moore.
- Cambridge United (League Two) claimed a notable scalp, beating Championship outfit Charlton Athletic 3-1.
What’s Next?
The third-round draw of the League Cup will take place following Wednesday’s fixtures, with Premier League heavyweights including Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester United entering the competition.
