Brentford stunned in extra time by Exeter
Exeter 1 Brentford 0
Brentford suffered another League Cup giant-killing after they were beaten by Ryan Harley’s extra-time goal.
Twelve months on from their 4-0 humiliation against Oxford, the Bees again went out to League Two opposition having named a much-changed line-up, which included debuts for Jan Holldack and Emmanuel Ledesma.
They had enjoyed the better of the second half but couldn’t make the most of their superiority, and Harley struck the winner in the 100th minute.
There was an injury concern for the Bees early on when Alan McCormack limped off, to be replaced by Ryan Woods.
The game was largely devoid of goalmouth action until late in the first half, when Philipp Hofmann headed a corner wide of the far post and Josh Clarke drew a comfortable save from Exeter keeper Bobby Olejnik.
Woods went closest to breaking the deadlock on 64 minutes as he fired just past the post, while at the other end Ollie Watkins’ shot from 25 yards was saved by Jack Bonham in the Bees goal.
Brentford made most of the running as the game went on and Ledesma, who had signed on non-contract terms earlier in the day, saw a free-kick saved by Olejnik, while Sam Saunders shot into the side netting.
The hosts named 15-year-old Ethan Ampadu in their starting line-up, and the Grecians’ youngest-ever player was named man-of-the-match on his senior debut.
Exeter were in the ascendancy in extra-time and the excellent Watkins played in Harley to strike the winner, as the Bees were condemned to another early League Cup exit.
Brentford: Bonham; Holldack, Dean, Egan, Field; Yennaris, McCormack (Woods 12); Clarke, Saunders, Ledesma (Shaibu 99); Hofmann (Hogan 76).
Subs not used: Bentley, Elder, Cole, Kerschbaumer.
