REPORT: Owls 4-1 Mansfield
Capital One Cup football returned to Hillsborough on Tuesday evening – and the Owls eased past League Two Mansfield and into the second round.In much the same way as they beat Bristol City in the Championship at the weekend, Wednesday dominated proceedings from the first whistle.
Early goals from Lucas Joao and Jose Semedo put the hosts in the driving seat and although they conceded right on half time through Ryan Tafazolli, Wednesday went on to seal a comfortable passage to the next stage with Kieran Lee and Modou Sougou on target in the second period.
Overall, it was a comfortable evening for Carlos Carvalhal’s side, which showed nine changes from Saturday’s game.
After firing a round of warning shots, the Owls duly took the lead on 13 minutes. Alex Lopez delivered a peach of a free kick right on to the head of the advancing Joao, who buried home from six yards.
Six minutes later it was two and from another close range header. Sougou did well to dig out a high, looping cross that Semedo bravely headed past Scott Shearer.
It was one-way traffic, as Wednesday spread play around the park, with Lopez and Lee at the heart.
And three minutes before the break, they could have been out of sight but Shearer was down swiftly to deal with a Caolan Lavery drive.
Still there was time in the first half, though, for Mansfield to offer a rare counter from which they ultimately halved the deficit.
Joe Wildsmith, making his first senior start, did well to keep out a fierce Chris Beardsley header and from the resulting flag kick, Tafazolli bundled into the far corner to give the Stags hope heading down the tunnel.
Bu the visitors ambitions were dashed just seven minutes into the second half. The impressive Joao effortlessly turned his marker to send Lee scampering in on goal and the midfielder slotted beyond Shearer.
Substitute Marco Matias then went close twice in as many minutes as the Owls turned on the style but Mansfield then grew back into the contest and Wildsmith had to be alert to keep out an Adi Yussuf snapshot.
Beardsley nodded narrowly wide moments later before Wednesday put the game to bed six minutes from time.
Lee found Helan down the left with a sweeping pass and the latter pulled back for Sougou to apply the final coating of gloss.
Owls: Wildsmith, Palmer, Semedo, Lavery (51), Lees, Wiggins, Joao (Helan 75), Lee, Lopez (Hutchinson 57), Sasso, Sougou