Owls win on penalties after a 3-3 Cup thriller

Sheffield Wednesday fielded a young side and beat Bolton 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in the Carabao Cup.

Owls Triumph on penalties after 3-3 cup tie with Bolton

Sheffield Wednesday rolled out a bold plan, starting five teenagers as they pressed Bolton from the first whistle. Bolton struck first through Gui Siqueira, but the visitors then faced a shift in momentum when Charlie McNeil received a straight red, leaving Bolton with ten men. Jordi Osei-Tutu and Ike Ugbo each found the net for Bolton to push the visitors ahead, while Thierry Gale levelled for Wednesday. Reece Johnston then restored Bolton’s lead before Amario Cozier-Duberry sparked a late comeback for the Owls with a near-post finish that sent the game to extra time or penalties. With stoppage time looming, Cozier-Duberry again drew a top-corner finish and the tie progressed to penalties. In the shootout, Aaron Morley’s effort was saved and Charlie Charles denied Max Conway, letting Ollie Palmer seal a 4-2 win for Wednesday on spot kicks.

This game was a test of both depth and nerve. Wednesday’s decision to lean on youth paid dividends in energy and pace, exposing Bolton’s still-developing balance between experience and youth. The red card altered the tactical map, forcing both teams to adapt midgame and turning what began as clean, contained football into a high-stakes late drama. The result does not crown a promotion push, but it highlights a pathway: cup ties can accelerate a club’s learning curve when young players seize moments and managers balance risk with growth. The night also underlines the fragility of a single-discipline approach, as late goals and a shootout can rewrite a match’s story in minutes.

Highlights

The cup keeps teaching players and managers how to blend age with ambition.