87 goals and two penalty shootouts in 20 opening matches of 25/26 EFL Trophy group stage

There were 87 goals and two penalty shootouts in 20 opening matches of 25/26 EFL Trophy group stage earlier in midweek.

We had screamers, there were unique goal celebrations, it was also another round with some mistakes when playing from the back.

It comes just a week after we saw 18 scored, plus a 5-4 penalty shootout in first three matches. Watch all of the match highlights throughout and the rest towards the bottom of the article.

Huddersfield Town 6-2 Newcastle U21

The Terriers taught their young opposition a lesson, with the Magpies conceding early goals from Jack Whatmough and Marcus Harness (penalty), with Sean Neave replying before the break, but Leo Castledine restored Huddersfield’s two-goal lead.

In the second half, Joe Taylor’s quick brace and Charlie McArthur’s own goal extended the advantage, despite Dylan Charlton’s consolation strike in Adam Lawrence’s debut as coach.

Huddersfield – Lee Nicholls; Lasse Sorensen (Jay Sway 53’), Jack Whatmough, Murray Wallace (C), Sean Roughan (Josh Feeney 83’); Dan Vost, David Kasumu; Marcus Harness (Will Alves 53’), Leo Castledine, Ruben Roosken (Cameron Ashia 57’); Joe Taylor (Bojan Radulović 57’)

Subs not used – Owen Goodman; Ben Wiles

Newcastle United U21s – Adam Harrison, Cathal Heffernan (c), Ciaran Thompson, Charlie McArthur, Alfie Harrison, Scott Bailey, Dylan Charlton, Fraser Harper, Sean Neave (Kacey Wooster 88), Seung-soo Park (Joe Brayson 62), Miodrag Pivaš (Logan Watts 55).

Subs not used – James Taylor, Baran Yıldız, Alex O’Donovan, Mohamed Waddani.

Crewe Alexandra 7-1 Chesterfield

Crewe Alexandra crushed Chesterfield, with Emre Tezgel netting a hat-trick, Louis Moult and Oli Armstrong also scoring their first goals for the club; Calum Agius and Adrien Thibaut also scored.

The win marked Crewe’s biggest victory since an 8-1 win over Cheltenham in 2011 and first hat-trick since Chris Dagnall’s in 2017.

Crewe (4-3-3): Waller; Dancey, Croker, Golding (Billington, 66), Finney; Armstrong, Powell, Tezgel (Thibaut, 53); Moore, Moult (Mingi, 66), Agius (O’Reilly, 66).

Subs not used: Booth, O’Reilly, Lunt, Sanders, Mingi, Billington.

Chesterfield (4-3-3): Boot; Tanton (Whitney, 46), Sheckleford, Grimes, Lewis (Bonis, 70); Naylor (Stirk, 70), Mandeville, Fleck; Markanday (Darcy, 70), Grigg (Gordon, 70) Cook.

Subs not used: Hemming, Dobra.

Stockport County 5-3 Wolves U21

Wolves U21s fell to a 5-3 defeat away at Stockport County in a thrilling Vertu Trophy opener at Edgeley Park.

Wolverhampton Wanderers led early on thanks to Edozie and Mane, however, Lowe’s brace levelled the scoreline by the 24th minute. Bailey put the Hatters ahead on 52 minures, Okoduwa got an equaliser, but Astles produced a late double to secure the win for the hosts.

Stockport – Hinchliffe, Dodgson (Edwards 46), Olowu, Lowe (Kouam 46), Mothersille (Mee 61), Fiorini, Bailey, Hills, Grogan (Watson 46), Allen, Gardner (Astles 76).

Unused subs – Metcalfe, Lawless.

Wolves – Gracey, Sutherland, Olagunju, Pond, Ojinnaka (Voice 64), Okoduwa, Rawlings, Bradbury (Angel 86), Mane (Ji 86), Edozie (Lopes 70), Holman (Barnett 63).

Unused subs – Dayman, Arnold.

AFC Wimbledon 1-5 Stevenage

Two goals from Gassan Ahadme), with Phoenix Patterson, Beryly Lubala, and Harvey White also getting on the scoresheet, sealed Stevenage three points and an impressive showing in their opener.

Danilo Orsi got one back for Wimbledon to make it 2-1 a penalty after Jasper Pattenden’s foul on Omar Bugiel.

EFL TROPHY RESULTS:

2nd September
Stockport County 5-3 Wolves U21
Wigan Athletic 0-2 Salford City
Doncaster Rovers 2-1 Everton U21
Bradford City 2-1 Grimsby Town
Lincoln City 3-0 Notts County
Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Rotherham United
Huddersfield Town 6-2 Newcastle U21
Fleetwood Town 2-2 Accrington Stanley (Fleetwood win 5-4 on pens)
Port Vale 4-1 Leeds U21
Burton Albion 2-0 Liverpool U21
Crewe Alexandra 7-1 Chesterfield
Plymouth Argyle 2-0 Cheltenham Town
Shrewsbury Town 1-3 Walsall
Swindon Town 3-2 Reading
AFC Wimbledon 1-5 Stevenage
Bromley 3-3 Crystal Palace U21 (Bromley win 4-3 on pens)
Peterborough United 1-3 Leyton Orient
Gillingham 4-1 Fulham U21
Wycombe Wanderers 1-2 Colchester
Luton Town 4-1 Barnet

26th August
Bristol Rovers 4-4 Tottenham Hotspur U21 (Bristol Rovers win 5-4 on penalties)
Oldham Athletic 1-5 Manchester City U21
Shrewsbury Town 3-1 Chelsea U21

Here’s how fans reacted with 87 goals scored and two penalty shootouts in the 20 opening matches of the 25/26 EFL Trophy group stage…

@LowerLeagueLook: Dear @EFL, Every single PL under 21s side last night (There were 7 of them) lost. It’s time to stop this silly experiment, bin off the national league version too, and have Leagues One, Two and NL clubs compete in one lower league cup. I would rather see National League sides come to my club than an Under 21s side simply looking for experience. Thanks.

@adamf_99: Great job everyone! On course for knocking the academies out!

@JimmyDRFC: Time to bin off the U21 sides. They’ve never added anything to the competition – 26 goals conceded in 7 games with no wins. Surely the best thing for the young players’ development is utilising the loan market rather than getting popped off the park and humiliated? #BTeamBoycott

@BuzbyBcafc: Completely agree with the idea, whether it’s realistic and practical I don’t know (genuinely, I don’t know enough about the trophy). I’d much prefer us have non-league teams. It’s frustrating seeing PL U21 teams come through, although we’ve had a lot of success against them.

@TheDB30: As a fan of a National League clubs I’d be all for testing ourselves in the EFL Trophy but even a National League Cup that has North/South teams instead of U21’s would suffice. Attendances wouldn’t be booming but it would still be better than this codswallop we have now.

@LeeLudlow3: Gills had 6 of our under 18 squad out there last night too. Should never have happened in the first place. Should’ve left it with the old format, I used to actually quite like this competition, apart from Richard Sadliers golden goal in the southern section final many yrs ago

@thegrimsbyway: It’s so stupid we’ve beat Manchester United’s first team so why would we ever care for their U21s

@ChrisKibble2: Imagine getting someone like Halifax coming to Valley Parade who will treat it as it should be treat, not sticking their kids out but treating it like a meaningful fixture, bringing a decent following too. Or playing someone other than Grimsby every season

@windog78: Not sure what’s better, #crewealex scoring 7 or no U21 team winning! Nothing added to the competition since they were brought in. Time to go back. #bteamboycott

@crewealex7: Well said, other than their dirty cash they contribute nothing to the tournament , while holding down attendances and an otherwise decent competition ☹️ #bteamboycott

@Berkshireblade: U21s really is a standard of football no where near the elite

@roverkopite: The U21 sides bringing a lot of quality to this stupid tournament 😂😂😂

@GasheadCook: Every u21 side lost bar 1 and many heavily even the one that drew post on pens.. Lovely

@TeeDee_1989: I get why people don’t like the format of the #vertutrophy but, at the same time, it gives us a chance to give the fringe players an extended look in a competitive(ISH) fixture. Which is never a bad thing. They’re certainly taking their opportunity tonight! #crewealex

Beszant ▶️ Dayal ▶️ Sargent

A goal made in the @GFC_Academy 🙌⚽️#Gills pic.twitter.com/ldOewwzBdC

— Gillingham FC (@TheGillsFC) September 3, 2025

18 goals and a 5-4 penalty shootout in first three matches of 25/26 EFL Trophy group stage