LONDON — The League Cup served up a night of drama and upsets as Jorgen Strand Larsen stole headlines with a dramatic late double for Wolves, while Premier League clubs Leeds and Sunderland suffered humiliating exits at the hands of lower-league opposition.
Wolves Find Their Bite
Wolves clawed their way past West Ham in a thrilling 3-2 showdown at Molineux, with all eyes on striker Jorgen Strand Larsen—linked heavily with a £50 million move to Newcastle. Introduced with less than 20 minutes to play, the Norwegian striker flipped the match on its head, delivering two ruthless finishes in quick succession to erase a 2-1 deficit and send the Hammers packing.
The result piles pressure on West Ham manager Graham Potter, whose team is still winless this season and now teetering after shipping 11 goals in three matches across all competitions.
Leeds Falter at Hillsborough
Meanwhile, a penalty shootout at Hillsborough ended in disaster for newly promoted Leeds United. Despite a summer transfer spree nearing £100 million, Leeds failed to impose their top-tier status and crashed out to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday after missing all three of their penalties. The home side, rocked by financial turmoil and fan protests against owner Dejphon Chansiri, found rare joy on the pitch amid a turbulent season.
Sunderland Suffer Similar Fate
There was no relief for Sunderland either. Facing League One underdogs Huddersfield, the Black Cats failed to convert dominance into victory, settling for a 1-1 draw and succumbing in another penalty shootout, compounding an already rocky campaign.
Brentford Cruise, Burnley Survive
Elsewhere, Brentford secured a confident 2-0 win away at Bournemouth in an all-Premier League clash. Goals from Fabio Carvalho and Igor Thiago sealed the Bees’ progression. Burnley, however, needed a stoppage-time strike from Oliver Sonne to scrape past a spirited Derby County side 2-1, narrowly avoiding another upset.
Cup Night Verdict
If the League Cup is a litmus test for depth and composure, several Premier League outfits failed miserably. With underdogs sensing vulnerability and second-string lineups unable to cope, the night reinforced a truth long known in English football — no tie is ever safe.
