Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Bees put on the spot to squeeze past Wanderers
BRENTFORD TAKEN TO PENALTIES DESPITE DOMINATION
BRENTFORD booked a place in the second round of the Carabao Cup with a penalty shoot-out win in their first game in their next home.
The Bees looked like they would progress in 90 minutes as they held a 1-0 lead thanks to an Ethan Pinnock goal and were well on top inside the final 15 minutes, but a defensive mistake gifted Wycombe a goal and the tie went to penalties.
It could have been worse for the Bees as Wycombe came close to winning it late on, but the hosts never looked like losing the shootout.
Ivan Toney, Jan Žamburek and Sergi Canós scored and even though Mathias Jensen hit his spot kick over the bar, a save from Luke Daniels from Scott Kashket gave Marcus Forss the chance to win it.
Forss lashed his penalty home to put The Bees through.
There was a very even start to the game and neither goalkeeper was called upon to make a save in the first half-hour.
Wycombe had the first effort on goal when Josh Parker headed a Joe Jacobsen free kick over and there were a few dead balls for the Bees to defend. Parker then almost set up a goal for Alex Samuel, but the drilled ball across the box was too strong.
Matt Bloomfield also shot wide for Wycombe after a nice turn in midfield.
Brentford could have scored when Marcondes and Canós linked on the right. The ball came across but Fosu miskicked when well placed and dragged his shot wide.
Brentford then won a free kick after referee Charles Breakspear penalised one of the many Wycombe fouls in central areas. Jensen floated the ball over the Wycombe backline and Pinnock ran on to it and planted a header past Ryan Allsop and in off the far post.
Daniels was called in to action just after Brentford’s goal, getting down well to save a snapshot from Samuel and then recovering to get onto the loose ball.
The Bees had the lead and the initiative at the break and three minutes after the re-start they had a man advantage. Žamburek and Gape challenged for a ball in midfield and the Wycombe man went in firmly with his studs slightly off the floor, catching his opponent. While there may have been contact with the ball, Žamburek was caught heavily and Gape was sent off.
Brentford made the most of their extra man and moved the ball with increasing pace, taking complete control of the game.
Henry shot wide after joining in the attack and Fosu was crowded out after being found inside the penalty area by Canós. Allsop saved well from Toney after Canós had failed to connect with a Marcondes cross. Canós then cut in off the left and beat Allsop with a curling shot that clipped the outside of the post.
Parker got on to a long ball down the left and let fly with a snapshot that Daniels had to palm wide at full stretch.
It looked as if it was only a matter of time until Brentford got a second, but Wycombe snatched an equaliser from almost nowhere.
Pinnock failed to connect with a pass across his penalty area and Kashket got on to the ball. He set up fellow substitute Daryl Horgan to drill past Daniels and in to the net.
Daniels got something on the ball but could not keep it out and Brentford had given Wycombe an equaliser. It could have got worse for the Bees moments later when Jacobsen lined up a free kick from 22 yards, but could not beat the defensive wall with the shot.
A late header from Goode was gathered by Allsop, who collided with Canós and the post as he fell but recovered enough to take part in the shoot-out.
It was Daniels who made the one save in the penalty competition. Nick Freeman blazed his penalty over for the visitors and Jensen did the same to leave it 2-2 after three each. Canós squeezed his penalty home and Daniels then saved to leave Forss to win it.