Lower-League Clubs Overwhelm Premier League U21 Teams in EFL Trophy Goal Rush

League One and League Two sides scored 93 goals across 23 EFL Trophy group matches, with several Premier League under-21 squads suffering heavy defeats.

English Football League clubs produced an attacking surge in the EFL Trophy group stage on Tuesday, scoring 93 goals across 23 matches against opposition that included several Premier League under-21 teams. The tournament, now backed by the US sandwich chain Jersey Mike's under a five-season sponsorship deal, delivered high scores throughout the evening.

Among the most eventful games was Rochdale's 3-3 draw with Liverpool's under-21 side in Northern Group H. The match in Northern Group H was paused in the 69th minute when fireworks were launched into the stadium from outside. Will Wright, an 18-year-old who joined from Salford, had leveled with a solo effort after Devante Rodney opened the scoring, and 41-year-old Ian Henderson struck twice after play resumed. Liverpool, down to 10 men from the 21st minute following a red card for defender Mor Talla Ndiaye, equalized deep in stoppage time and won the shootout 7-6 to take a bonus point.

Leicester beat Fulham's under-21s 6-1 in Southern Group B after building a five-goal lead before the break, with Admir Bristric scoring three times inside 34 minutes and Tommy Watson adding a pair. Bobby De Cordova-Reid scored against his old club on top of three first-half assists. Stevenage also won 6-1 away at Walsall behind a Michael Mellon hat-trick in the same group.

There were more one-sided scorelines elsewhere. Luton's Jordan Clark marked his 33rd birthday with three goals in a 6-0 rout of Ipswich Town's under-21s, while Plymouth beat Crystal Palace's youngsters 5-1 with a Caleb Watts brace. Crewe beat Aston Villa's under-21s 4-1 thanks to two goals from Jack Lankester, and Bradford overturned a deficit to defeat Newcastle's under-21 side 2-1 with both goals from Nick Powell.

Other results saw Accrington fight back from two down to draw 3-3 with Sunderland's under-21s and prevail 3-1 on penalties for a bonus point in Northern Group A. Burton drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest's under-21s, who took the bonus point in the shootout, while Notts County stayed top of Northern Group F by beating Grimsby 2-1. Barnsley trailed Leeds 4-0 with 10 minutes left in Group G but scored three in seven minutes before falling just short at 4-3.