The 2025-26 Carabao Cup is here again, and what a way to start. This is the 65th season of the English Football League Cup, and the action kicked off on August 12, 2025. Carabao Energy Drink sponsors the whole thing again. We’ve got 92 clubs fighting it out: teams from the Premier League and English Football League all want that winner’s spot and potentially a spot in the 2026-27 UEFA Conference League play-off round.
What You Should Know
Four League Two teams had to start even earlier in a preliminary round. Barnet, Oldham Athletic, Accrington Stanley, and Newport County got things started. Then came the first round, where Championship sides like Ipswich Town and Leicester City jumped in early because nine Premier League clubs were busy with European stuff.
SkySports kept everyone glued to their screens with match update feeds and live scores. And wow, the underdogs came to play. Teams like Doncaster Rovers and Bromley pulled off some crazy upsets that nobody saw coming.
For the risk takers, 1xBet Casino gives you a smooth betting platform that makes watching the matches more exciting. For those who like in-play betting, remember to follow the games and score live and make your betting decisions accordingly.
Newcastle United won the trophy last season, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the 2024-25 final. The Magpies are waiting to enter in the third round, but the early surprises already prove why you better bet on this cup being totally unpredictable.
Carabao Cup Latest Match Coverage and Key Updates
Here’s what happened in the first round on August 12, 2025:
| Match | Score | Key Scorers/Notes |
| Cardiff City vs Swindon Town | 2-1 | Ashford (21′), Colwill (45+2′) for Cardiff; Ehibhatiomhan (55′) for Swindon |
| Wrexham vs Hull City | 3-3 (5-3 pens) | Wrexham won on penalties after a wild draw |
| Derby County vs West Bromwich Albion | 1-1 (3-2 pens) | Vickers made important saves for Derby in the shootout |
| Coventry City vs Luton Town | 1-0 | Simms (57′) scored the winner plus a clean sheet |
| Watford vs Norwich City | 1-2 | Norwich returned with two goals in the second half |
| Bromley vs Ipswich Town | 1-1 (5-4 pens) | Bromley shocked the Premier League newcomers on penalties |
| Doncaster Rovers vs Middlesbrough | 4-0 | Total domination led to a shocking rout |
| Swansea City vs Crawley Town | 3-1 | Swansea cruised through comfortably |
| Bristol City vs MK Dons | 2-0 | Knight (6′), Hirakawa (61′) wrapped up the win |
| Northampton Town vs Southampton | 0-1 | Southampton squeezed through by one goal |
| Oxford United vs Colchester United | 1-0 | Oxford got through with a tight clean sheet |
| Plymouth Argyle vs Queens Park Rangers | 3-2 | Plymouth held on despite a late QPR push |
| Portsmouth vs Reading | 1-2 | Reading were up with a two-goal lead in four minutes |
| Wigan Athletic vs Notts County | 1-0 | Wigan advanced with a narrow victory |
These results saw drama everywhere. Some matches haven’t happened, so we don’t have those results yet.
Major Moments From the Matches
August 12 delivered some heart-stopping football. SkySports covered everything live, catching moments like Bromley beating Ipswich Town and Doncaster Rovers absolutely destroying Middlesbrough. Plymouth Argyle’s 3-2 win against Queens Park Rangers was a thriller. Reading shocked Portsmouth with a 2-1 win, while Oxford United and Wigan Athletic both won 1-0 with solid defending.
If you’re into betting, 1xBet Casino has live odds that match up perfectly with score live feeds. Every moment becomes even more intense.
Goals that defined the results
Goals made all the difference in the first round. Cardiff City beat Swindon Town 2-1 thanks to Cian Ashford’s long-range rocket in the 21st minute and Rubin Colwill’s beautiful curling shot in stoppage time. Swindon’s Ehibhatiomhan got one back at 55 minutes, but it wasn’t enough.
Coventry City got their 1-0 win over Luton Town when Ellis Simms found the net in the 57th minute. Bristol City made it look easy against MK Dons with a 2-0 win. Jason Knight scored just 6 minutes in, then Yu Hirakawa added another in the 61st minute. Swansea City’s attack was too much for Crawley Town in their 3-1 victory, and Plymouth Argyle’s three goals just edged out Queens Park Rangers in a 3-2 nail-biter.
Reading wrapped things up against Portsmouth with two first-half goals to win 2-1. Doncaster Rovers fully annihilated Middlesbrough 4-0, including a memorable long-range strike. Southampton and Oxford United both won 1-0 with single goals that proved to be enough. SkySports captured all these moments perfectly.
The goals that mattered most:
- Cardiff’s Ashford (21′): Drove it low from way out
- Cardiff’s Colwill (45+2′): Perfect curl into the top corner
- Coventry’s Simms (57′): Cool finish when it counted
- Bristol’s Knight (6′): Set the tone early
- Plymouth’s attack: Three goals to beat QPR
Key saves and defensive plays
Goalkeepers and defenders had their moments too. Josh Vickers was Derby County’s hero, making two penalty saves to beat West Bromwich Albion 3-2 in the shootout after a 1-1 draw. Rotherham United’s Cameron Dawson also saved two penalties, edging Salford City 3-2 on spot-kicks.
Coventry City’s defense was rock-solid against Luton Town. They kept a clean sheet, making a huge block in the dying minutes to keep their 1-0 win. Oxford United and Wigan Athletic both held out their opponents to 1-0. Oxford beat Colchester United and Wigan got past Notts County with tough defending. Southampton needed a late save to hold onto their 1-0 win over Northampton Town.
SkySports match update coverage showed just how important these defensive moments were. 1xBet Casino even lets you bet on clean sheets, making every defensive play more exciting.
The defensive highlights:
- Vickers’ saves (Derby): Two penalty stops that sent them through
- Rotherham’s keeper: Two shootout saves against Salford
- Coventry’s block: Last-second tackle to keep the lead
- Oxford’s defense: Complete shutout of Colchester
Turning points in the game flow
Some moments completely changed everything. Bromley’s penalty win over Ipswich Town came after they defended like their lives depended on it, with their goalkeeper making a crucial penalty save. Derby County’s late equalizer against West Bromwich Albion dragged into penalties, and Vickers became the hero.
Wrexham fought back in the second half to draw 3-3 with Hull City, then won 5-3 on penalties. Doncaster Rovers must have had some serious halftime talk because they came out and demolished Middlesbrough 4-0. Plymouth Argyle’s third goal against Queens Park Rangers turned out to be the winner in their 3-2 victory, and Reading’s second-half comeback at Portsmouth was something special.
Oxford’s early goal against Colchester basically decided their 1-0 win right from the start. You could follow all these momentum swings through score live feeds. You’ll surely see how tactical changes can make all the difference.
Player Performances and Tactical Insights
The first round showed off some real talent and smart football tactics.
Rising stars making an impression
Young players really stepped up. Cardiff City’s Cian Ashford is only 20, but he opened the scoring against Swindon Town like a veteran. His teammate Rubin Colwill, just 23, sealed the win with that gorgeous curling shot. Elsewhere, Coventry City’s Ellis Simms, 24, scored the only goal they needed against Luton Town.
Bristol City had two 24-year-olds leading their attack as Jason Knight and Yu Hirakawa both scored in the 2-0 win over MK Dons. Knight got his own in early while Hirakawa added insurance in the second half. Meanwhile, Doncaster Rovers’ young attackers tore Middlesbrough apart.
SkySports highlighted all these performances, showing that these young players have bright futures ahead.
The standout young players:
- Ashford and Colwill (Cardiff): Both were on the score sheet in the 2-1 win
- Simms (Coventry): Got the crucial 57th-minute winner
- Knight and Hirakawa (Bristol): Early and late goals for the 2-0 win
Veteran players leading by example
Experience came in when required. Josh Vickers, aged 29, was the man of the moment for Derby County in their penalty win over West Bromwich Albion. They won the match through those two penalty saves. Swansea City’s experienced players drove their team to a comfortable 3-1 win over Crawley Town, keeping their cool throughout.
West Bromwich Albion’s defense held on until the penalty shootout versus Derby. Southampton’s backline, led by their experienced players, recorded a clean sheet in their 1-0 win. These veterans, featured in all the match update coverage, provided the stability their teams needed in tight battles.
Managerial strategies and formations
Several managers saw their sides deliver exactly what they’d worked on in training. Frank Lampard’s Coventry City beat Luton Town 1–0. Ellis Simms scored in the second half. The side continued to be solid at the back and capitalized when the chance came.
Gary Rowett specifically explained how a tactical switch led Oxford to beat Colchester United 1–0. He switched to a 3-1-4-2 set-up which helped the team secure victory. According to him, “When you try a new formation, there are always going to bits that work well and some bits that are more challenging.”
Highlights and Streaming Access
Want to relive all the Carabao Cup drama? Different platforms have highlights and replays for you.
Where to watch the full match replay
UK viewers are spoiled with full replays of Carabao Cup matches on Sky Sports+. It’s available to all Sky subscribers.
Other international viewers can check beIN Sports and DAZN, depending on where they are. If you’re in the US, Paramount+ also offers full match replays. You can find specific matches you want.
Official highlight packages and clips
ITV runs a highlights show after each round. You can enjoy the best moments like Doncaster’s 4-0 demolition and Bromley’s penalty heroics. SkySports’ YouTube channel posts clips of the biggest moments, like Plymouth Argyle’s 3-2 thriller that got thousands of views.
beIN Sports also has a dedicated highlights show after each match day. The EFL’s website equally hosts highlight packages too.
Social media reactions and viral moments
X went crazy over Bromley’s penalty win against Ipswich Town and Doncaster Rovers’ destruction of Middlesbrough. Fans bantered about Coventry’s tough defending, Swansea’s attack, and Reading’s surprise win at Portsmouth. #CarabaoCup was also trending, with fans sharing their reactions to all the upsets.
Post-Match Analysis and Expert Opinions
The post-match discussions gave us deeper insights into what happened.
Coaches’ reactions and press conference notes
Frank Lampard talked about how his Coventry team turned things around against Luton Town. He said the half-time chat made the difference: “Luton are quite a difficult team… once we spoke at half-time a bit more about it, we were better…”
Grant McCann couldn’t stop enjoying his team’s brilliant 4–0 win over Middlesbrough. He was thrilled with what he saw: “top class from start to finish… We showed our energy, bite and quality. … I couldn’t be more proud of the boys.”
Swansea City’s Alan Sheehan was pleased with how his side went about their 3–1 win over Crawley Town. He thought they could have wrapped it up much earlier: “The game should have been done at half-time really… there was some wonderful attacking play… I liked the intensity we played with for most of the game.”
Player interviews and match reflections
Derby’s keeper Josh Vickers was buzzing after they beat West Bromwich Albion 3–2 on penalties in the Carabao Cup. He talked about what this team is all about:
“We might not be as good as we want to be on the ball some days, but character and fight will always be there with this group.”
Vickers also let people in on how they get ready for penalty shootouts:
“Whenever we know there is a possibility of penalties, we do our research day-to-day with Paul Clements and the analysis team as a goalkeeping group. It’s no secret, we have stuff written down. It’s been well documented out there. That’s what we do, and the players know that. Thankfully tonight it came off; preparation is everything.”
Meanwhile, there was a night to recall for Coventry City forward Ellis Simms as his side triumphed over Luton Town 1–0. The striker’s winner came on his 100th appearance for the club. He took to social media afterwards:
“Delighted to mark my 100th Coventry City appearance with a goal and a win. Even better to help the team progress to the next round.”
Expert commentary on tactical decisions
Pundits definitely enjoyed Coventry City’s defense and Swansea City’s fluid attacking play. Pressure play by Doncaster Rovers against Middlesbrough was also a masterclass on strangulating opposition.
Set-pieces were ginormous in many ties, especially in Bromley’s penalty win and Derby’s shootout win. Elsewhere, Plymouth Argyle’s grit was highlighted after their 3-2 win, which showed true character.
Conclusion
The first round of the 2025-26 Carabao Cup on August 12, 2025, gave us some memories. Doncaster Rovers’ demolition by 4-0, Bromley’s penalty saves, and the surprise of Reading at Portsmouth showed that anything can happen in this competition.
The second round is coming up, and SkySports’ match update coverage and 1xBet Casino’s betting options will keep fans connected to every moment. You better be there to witness the surprises waiting in this wild tournament.