REPORT: Cambridge 2-1 Owls
Cambridge 2-1 Wednesday
Mingoia 90+1 Joao 52
Berry 118
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The Owls were defeated in the first round of the EFL Cup, going down 2-1 against Cambridge United on the road.
Lucas Joao’s second half strike was cancelled out at the last by Pietro Mingoia and the hosts completed the comeback in the 118th minute when Luke Berry slotted home to earn Cambridge a place in round two.
It was all change for the Owls following the Championship opener against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Carlos Carvalhal made ten changes, handing academy product Connor O’Grady a debut and a place on the bench for a string of the central defender’s young consorts.
A relatively even first half saw the hosts go the closest ten minutes in when Tom Dallison headed in a deep cross from the left only for the offside flag to chalk off the defender’s effort.
That chance aside, Cambridge barely laid a glove on Wednesday, whose main threat came from Will Buckley.
The new recruit, on loan from Sunderland, looked lively down the right wing and one run midway through the opening 45 almost saw Atdhe Nuhiu profit at the back post.
Overall, the cup-tie needed more thrust after the break and debutant Buckley almost registered his maiden goal when his rasping drive struck the inside of the upright.
Wednesday continued on the front foot and duly went ahead through Joao, who buried home a low strike after shrugging off his marker in the 18-yard box.
The Owls continued to press and Nuhiu hit the bar from an inviting Liam Palmer centre and Joao also went close to a second, but his powerful hit from outside the box flashed just wide.
The visitors were made to pay for those missed chances as a wonder strike from Mingoia restored parity just moments from the final whistle.
Into extra time and with penalties looming, Berry was on hand to tuck neatly home into the bottom corner, earning a place in the next round for the League 2 outfit.
Wednesday: Wildsmith, Vermijl, Semedo, O’Grady, Helan, Buckley, Plamer, Wallace (Murphy 86), Sougou (Hooper 45), Joao (Hirst 91), Nuhiu