Barnsley FC suffer spot-kick agony in Carabao Cup tie at Peterborough
Barnsley’s difficult spell continued as they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League One rivals Peterborough United on penalties.
It was the first time Peterborough have moved into the fourth round since 2009 and it came courtesy of a 7-6 penalty shootout victory that followed a thrilling 3-3 draw between the two League One sides.
Barnsley – who went into the game on the back of two league defeats in which they shipped eight goals – were gifted the lead after 61 seconds when Peterborough goalkeeper Alex Bass was charged down by Cameron McGeehan, with the Tykes captain nodding in after the ball had come off the bar.
Peterborough equalised in the 19th minute when Lucca Mendonca’s cross was pushed out by Barnsley goalkeeper Kieran Flavell as far as Harry Leonard, who prodded in.
The hosts then completed the turnaround after 27 minutes when Harley Mills’ free-kick was headed in by the unmarked Danny Ormerod.
But the Tykes were level five minutes before half-time when Reyes Cleary beat Mendonca with ease down the left before placing his shot into the bottom corner.
The visitors looked to have won it when Cleary bent in his second in the 74th minute, but Ormerod sent the tie to penalties with by heading in Mills’ cross with just two minutes remaining.
After 12 successful spot-kicks, a tame effort from Barnsley’s Luke Alker was saved by Bass, giving Harrison Jones the chance to send the hosts through, which he dispatched.