Fleetwood Town Stun West Brom with Dramatic Carabao Cup Upset

Fleetwood Town pulled off one of the biggest surprises in the Carabao Cup, ousting Championship side West Bromwich Albion with a spirited 2-1 victory at Highbury Stadium. The League Two side, managed by Charlie Adam, overcame an early setback to secure their place in the second round, sending shockwaves through the competition.

West Brom's evening began promisingly when young striker Mo Faal, making his full debut, scored just six minutes into the match. Faal capitalized on a perfectly weighted through ball from summer signing Devante Cole, delicately chipping the ball past Fleetwood’s keeper Jay Lynch to give the visitors the lead.

However, Fleetwood responded swiftly. Just six minutes later, Ryan Graydon equalized with a stunning right-footed strike from outside the box, following a well-crafted assist from Danny Mayor. Graydon’s effort curled into the bottom left corner, leaving West Brom’s debutant goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith with no chance.

The Cod Army continued to press, and their persistence paid off in the 33rd minute. Matty Virtue orchestrated the move, breaking down the inside-right channel before delivering a precise pass to Ronan Coughlan on the left side of the area. Coughlan, showing composure beyond his years, calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner, turning the match on its head.

West Brom, fielding a completely changed lineup from the team that started their Championship campaign with a 3-1 win over QPR, struggled to find their rhythm. Despite a late surge, including a 65th-minute save from Jay Lynch to deny former Fleetwood striker Devante Cole, the Baggies were unable to break down the resilient Fleetwood defense.

The match concluded after seven tense minutes of added time, confirming Fleetwood's hard-fought victory and sending them into the second round of the Carabao Cup. For Carlos Corberan’s side, it was a night to forget, as their second-string lineup failed to capitalize on early promise, leaving the Championship side to rue missed opportunities.

Meanwhile, Charlie Adam and his Fleetwood team can savor a famous win, one that will be remembered for years to come as they continue their Carabao Cup journey.