The U's Matchzone

Match Report: Carabao Cup – Oxford United 1-1 Sunderland (4-2 on pens)

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Oxford United have made it through to the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup for the first time since 1988 following their 4-2 penalty shootout win over League One rivals, Sunderland.

The game finished 1-1 after Marc McNulty cancelled out Rob Hall’s first-half strike, but the U’s extended their unbeaten run to eleven games in all competitions.

Karl Robinson made five changes from the side that beat Rochdale at the weekend. Two came enforced with Cameron Brannagan and Chris Cadden out injured, with Academy graduates Shandon Baptiste and Sam Long the replacements.

Simon Eastwood remained in goal, with Josh Ruffels and Long as the full-backs. Elliott Moore came in John Mousinho, alongside Rob Dickie.

Alex Rodriguez Gorrin started ahead of the back four, behind James Henry and Baptiste, while Tariqe Fosu started on the left and Hall replaced Mark Sykes on the right. The final change saw Matty Taylor replace Jamie Mackie up top.

The game was a sell-out but the home crowd almost witnessed the worst possible start, however, McNulty fired an early effort wide.

Sunderland came with a game plan to halt the in-form U’s and in the early stages, it was clearly effective.

McNulty was influential and struck the post, but the U’s sprung a counter-attack and netted with their first real opportunity.

Despite Fosu missing Henry, the ball fell to Hall who guided his effort through a crowded box to score his first goal in almost two years.

But the goal didn’t stop the flow of the game and the Black Cats could have equalised before the break. Dickie misplaced his clearance and McNulty played in Max Power, but the midfielder fired wide from eight yards.

Sunderland continued their impressive display in the second half, and it wasn’t until the hour mark before Oxford had their next chance. Baptiste saw his effort saved by Jon McLaughlin, but the visitors then won a string of corners to keep up the pressure.

Eventually, the Black Cats found a deserved leveller when McNulty struck home from another corner.

The striker had a huge chance to score again four minutes later, but his close-range effort was deflected wide.

Long survived a penalty shout on Luke O’Nien as a fatigued Oxford side held out for the shoot-out.

Henry and substitute Anthony Forde both scored before Fosu made it 3-2. Will Grigg then smashed his effort over the bar to give the U’s the advantage.

John Mousinho converted, as he did in the tie against Millwall before Eastwood saved from McNulty to send Oxford through to the quarter-final.

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